The triumphant Thambalnu team and officials at Yairipok on Wednesday. Telegraph picture

Imphal, April 16: Thambalnu Market Football Club clinched the winner’s trophy defeating Top Chingtha Development Organisation 2-0 in the final of the fifth Th. Shyamkumar invitation prize money football tournament, at Yairipok in Thoubal district last evening.

Thambalnu struck early in the very first minute as W. Daniel Singh scored to take the lead. With the momentum in their favour, Thambalnu should have gone ahead with more goals, given the stingless Top Chingtha attack, had not their players mistimed some of their shots.

The second half proved to be more fruitful for the Thambalnu players as they never let down their tempo and their relentless attack came good with another goal in the 58th minute as Barjohn scored the winning goal.

Top Chingtha were apparently luckless till the end despite going on the offensive as Thambalnu displayed solid defence till the end.

However, the match, crucial as it was for both teams, had its share of unsavoury moments. Suresh Rai and W. Daniel Singh of Thambalnu Market Football Club and Sadananda Singh of Top Chingtha Development Organisation were booked with yellow cards for unsporting behaviour.

Thambalnu were awarded Rs 50,000 as prize money while Top Chingtha, as the runners up, bagged Rs 30,000.

The team in third position, Tulihal Educated Association, received Rs 15,000 while the fourth, Moirang Sairi MYC, bagged Rs 10,000.

Akum Ao of Sports Education Centre bagged the Top-scorer of the Tournament award while the Best Goalkeeper award was given to Thoi Singh of Tulihal Educated Association.

The Best Player award was conferred on Md Sahidur Rahman, also of Tulihal Educated Association.

People’s Development Organisation bagged the Fair Play trophy, which carries a cash prize of Rs 5,000 each.

Deputy Speaker of Manipur Assembly, Th. Shyamkumar Singh, along with president of Andro Kendra Development Organisation, Md Faqqaruddin and social worker Th. Babita Devi, distributed the trophies and other prizes to the teams.

The tournament’s sponsors, Andro Kendra Development Organisation, will hold the next edition of the game at Pouroukhongjil.