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| Mizo players pose with the Dr T Ao Memorial Cup at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok on Friday. Picture by Prabin Khaling |
Gangtok, March 9: Mizoram prevailed over Sikkim 9-8 in sudden death to lift the Dr T Ao Memorial Cup in the final of the soccer tournament at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok today.
The visiting team won the premier northeast tournament when Vincent Lalrindika converted a spot kick into a goal after Sonam Pintso Bhutia of Sikkim failed to shake the rival’s net in the fourth round of the sudden death.
In football, sudden death means there is no fixed number of spot kicks and players of both teams would continue taking one penalty each until a winner is decided.
The match had ended in 1-1 draw in normal time leading to spot kicks. With both the teams scoring four goals and missing one spot kick each, the penalty-shootout also ended in a stalemate, paving the way for the sudden death.
Mizoram had taken the lead in the 15th minute of the match. R. Laldanmawia’s shot from close range rebounded off Sikkimese defender Sonam Pintso’s legs and looped over goalkeeper Sikkim Kunzang Lachungpa into the net. The speedy players of Mizoram gave Sikkim’s defence a tiring time in the first half and continued their momentum in the second half.
However, towards the last quarter of the match, Sikkim players found some energy to attack the Mizo goal. Their sustained pressure resulted in a handball by a Mizo player in the box, resulting in a penalty in the 82nd minute. Midfielder Thudpen Tshering Bhutia calmly converted the spot kick into a goal.
Mizoram took home Rs 7 lakh and Dr T Ao Memorial Cup, while Sikkim received the trophy for the runner-up and Rs 4 lakh. Manipur captain Nilakumar Singh was adjudged the player of the tournament.(Telegraph)
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