STATE LEAGUE

Imphal, Sept. 14: Neroca FC proved their mettle with a fighting 2-1 win over FC Zalen in a match of the 10th Manipur State League at Mapal Kangjeibung here.

FC Zalen enthralled the packed stadium with an early goal when Kh. Jibon Singh headed home in the seventh minute off a corner from Seiboi Haokip.

With their prestige at stake, Neroca FC, who will feature in the second division of the I-League, made more concerted efforts in the latter stages of the game and succeeded in the 54th minute. A long throw-in from Md Sohail saw Ch. Anandkumar get the better of the Zalen goalkeeper and slam home the equaliser.

Both teams sweated it out in search of the winning goal. FC Zalen received a jolt when Seiboi Haokip was sent off after a second yellow card in the 91st minute.

In the resultant free kick, Imran Khan hit the horizontal post and the ball bounced back to Th. Johnson, who booted it home for the victory.

Two Neroca FC players, Ng. Tomarjit and Kh. Satish, and one FC Zalen player, David Ngaite, received yellow cards during the match.

In another match, Manipur Police Sports Club played out a goalless draw against United Sporting Association.

Imphal E. Super Division: Eastern Sporting Union beat Khetri Iril Mapal Youth Club by a solitary goal in a match of the M.K. Ghanendrajit Memorial Super Division Football League, 2015 at SWC ground, Khongman. Soreingam struck the winning goal for Eastern Sporting.

In another match, XI Star Sporting Union thrashed NIVSO Keibi 3-0. N. Ramesh scored two goals while A. Rojio hit one.

Imphal W. First Division: Thangmeiband Athletic Union beat SAI RC 2-0 in a match of the 22nd L. Sangita Devi Memorial First Divison Football League 2015 at Malom. H. Inao and L. Micheal scored for the Thangmeiband team. The other match between CHIKL and WAFA Wangoi ended in a goalless draw.