Neroca FC – 0
Army Red FT- 0
Imphal, Wednesday, August 24, 2022:
Home side NEROCA FC was held to a goalless draw
by the Army Red Football Team (ARFT) in a Group C encounter of the 131st IndianOil Durand
Cup, here at the Khuman Lampak Stadium in the first game of Wednesday. NEROCA, who had
won theirfirst game against local ricals TRAU FC, were the more wasteful of the two while ARFT,
who picked up a second consecutive draw, continued their good defensive work from their game
against Chennaiyin FC. NEROCA as a result, now have four points from two games while ARFT
has two from the same number of games.
All 47 games of the 131st Durand Cup are being telecast LIVE on Sports18 1 SD & HD and
Sports18 Khel as well as live-steamed on the Over the Top (OTT) platform VOOT
Uneventful First Half
The first half saw no intent from both teams, particularly in the middle of the park. The home side
showed more eagerness, but could not create any meaningful chances in the ARFT half.
The Reds were compact and made it harder for NEROCA to create anything by defending deep.
The Army men played well on the counters and did create few chances but were poor in the final
third.
NEROCA up domination but fail to score
NEROCA started the second half brightly and started to create more chances. Lulminlal and
Thomyo in particular, missed glorious opportunities to score for NEROCA.
At the hour mark, Lulminlal created a half-chance of shorts with great individual work, his
diagonal run past two Army Red defenders creating the space to shoot, but he was off-target
in the end
He was again at it four minutes later with a wonderful cross from the left wing, which took
out the entire defence. Thomyo followed it and met it with a side-volley but he too lacked
direction.
With three minutes left on the clock it was the Army team which got one final chance to
break the deadlock when substitute Pradeep Kumar, unleashed a left-footed pile-driver from
about 20 yards out but keeper Sonam Porei, rightly adjudged the Man of the Match, brought
off a crucial save to deny the Army men.
