2nd Division League Final Round: Matchday 3

Travelling without their head coach, TRAU FC have made it three wins in three; while their closest challengers for promotion Chhinga Veng FC stumble against Lonestar Kashmir.

TRAU FC make it three wins out of three

Wednesday, May 8, 2019: Ozone FC 0-2 TRAU FC

TRAU FC just before departing for Bengaluru;

After today’s win over Ozone FC, they travel to Srinagar to meet Lonestar Kashmir on May 12.

Tiddim Road Athletic Union Football Club are travelling without their head coach Nandakumar Singh who is away on election duty. But that did not seem to perturb them one bit. They won comfortably against Ozone FC and the 2-0 scoreline doesn’t do justice to the way they dominated the game.

Both the goals came very early in the first half. The 20-year-old Ukhrul-born Yami Longvah scored a brace in the space of four minutes to setup the match for the away side. The goals from the East Bengal loanee came in the 8th and 12th minute.

Ozone FC had a couple of chances through Sabeeth among others, but they scuffed them. Today’s defeat is their second in a row and they picked the wrong time to lose form after being undefeated for most of the season.

The vital win today marks the third consecutive win for TRAU and having beaten all their opponents once, they are favourites to win the 2nd Division League.

Here are a couple of quotes by the TRAU management on life without a coach – temporarily.

Nandakumar works in the Electricity Board of the Manipur State and he’s in charge of ensuring all the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are supplied with power during the election. For this reason, he couldn’t travel to Bengaluru and will be available only after our away game against Lone Star Kashmir on May 12. Laishram Ibomcha Singh, Team Manager, TRAU FC

Each one of these players was handpicked by Nandakumar Singh and he knows the traits of each one of them.

He may not be in Bengaluru physically, but his effects were seen in the team’s performances in Bengaluru and other places. T Phulen Meitei, Secretary, TRAU FC

The TRAU FC president Ibomcha made a lot more to say about his team’s astonishing run in the 2nd Division League in this interview with Sportskeeda.

Lonestar Kashmir salvage a point

Thursday, May 9, 2019: Lonestar Kashmir 1-1 Chhinga Veng FC

Chhinga Veng FC in Srinagar

Chhinga Veng failed to keep the pressure on TRAU FC and only narrowly managed to avoid defeat against Lonestar Kashmir at the TRC Ground in Srinagar.

Both teams couldn’t break the deadlock in the first half. At the start of the second half, the Chhinga Veng midfielder Lalrammaura Rammawia put the ball into his own net (46′) to gift the opposition the lead.

Chhinga Veng FC scrambled to make amends, but they couldn’t force the issue. Eventually, when it looked like Lonestar Kashmir were going to walk away with three points, a penalty was awarded to the away side in the 90+5′ minute. The 20-year-old Lalmuanzova stepped up to convert from the spot to rescue a point for the side from Aizawl.

Chasing promotion, it will be two points lost for Chhinga Veng FC; Lonestar Kashmir will the the happier of the two teams – they finally managed to register a point on the final round group table.

FINAL ROUND GROUP TABLE

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