Lalrinchhana tochhawng

While Wangkheimayum Sadananda Singh: Manipur and Mizoram emerged winners in contrasting ways in the last two quarterfinal encounters of the 77th National Football Championships for Santosh Trophy at the Golden Jubilee Stadium here on Tuesday. On a day when two northeast sides confirmed their growing stature in Indian football, Manipur were the first to make the last-four grade with a massive 7-1 triumph over Assam.

On the contrary, Mizoram showed seven-time champions Kerala the exit door with a 7-6 verdict in the sudden-death penalty shootout. The regulation time, followed by the 30 minutes of extra time, proved futile as neither team could score. In the semifinals on Thursday, Services will take on Mizoram while Manipur will face Goa in the second semifinal.

Hard-fought win for Mizoram