Northeast Desk, 3rd March: In a thrilling day of Santosh Trophy action, Mizoram showcased their dominance with a commanding 4-0 victory over Railways, securing their spot in the quarterfinals. The clash at the Golden Jubilee Stadium on Saturday saw Mizoram’s relentless performance as they controlled the game from the outset.
Lalthankima set the tone early for Mizoram with a clinical finish in the 17th minute, giving his team the lead. Despite Railways’ efforts to mount a comeback in the second half, Mizoram remained unfazed. Vanlalbiaa Chhangte extended Mizoram’s lead in the 81st minute, followed by an unfortunate own goal by Railways’ Abhishek Aich in the 87th minute. Mizoram’s Malsawmfela sealed the deal with a fourth goal, securing a convincing victory and their spot in the quarterfinals.
In the day’s second match, Manipur faced Delhi in a showdown for the top spot in Group B. Manipur’s captain, Philam Sanathoi Meetei, struck early in the seventh minute, giving his team the lead. Although Delhi managed to equalize through Rishabh Dobriyal before halftime, Manipur’s Leimajam Sangkar Singh secured the victory with a decisive goal in the 66th minute.
With the conclusion of the group stage, the quarterfinal lineup is now set. Services will take on Railways, while Goa will clash against Delhi on 4 March. On 5 March, Manipur will face Assam, while Mizoram will lock horns with Kerala in what promises to be an exciting round of knockout matches.
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