Kohima Super Cup: Barak FC beats G Sports in penalty shootout, reach final

Kohima: Barak FC beat G Sports FC in a penalty shootout to enter Kohima Super Cup 2022 final with a 5-3 score after the game ended with a 3-3 draw after 120 minutes of play. 

Fans of both teams thronged the IG Stadium in Kohima as two of the top teams clashed in the first semi-final game on Saturday. 

At the 13th minute, Barak FC’s Elminhao Kilong Kuki scored the first goal of the match but the team could not secure a lead as G Sports FC’s winger Menguzelie Rutsa made an equalizer in the 14 minute.

Barak FC’s Winamthiu led the team with a score in the 73rd minute through a corner kick deflected from G Sports FC’s defender into the back of the net. Shortly, G Sports FC’s Temjenwati Longkumer equalised the score through a penalty in the 80th minute. 

During an extra time that was added to the game, G Sports FC’s Kekhrieletuo Tsira surprised fans with a goal in the 92nd minute, but Indian Super League (ISL) winger Baoringdao Bodo from Barak FC’s equalizing score in the 93rd minute sealed the scorecard at 3-3, compelling the winner of the match to be decided through a penalty shootout.  

During the tense penalty shootout, Bodo scored the winning penalty to make it 5-3 at the end of the shootout, as one player from G Sports FC failed to net the ball. 

This led to Barak FC’s win, making them the first finalist of the tournament. Barak will take on the winner of the second semi-finals to be played between A Yhome FC and New Market FC on Sunday at 1:30 PM. 

The two finalists will then play for the championship trophy on May 31. The winner will walk away with a cash prize of Rs 1.80 lakh while the runner up team will pocket Rs 1.20 lakh. 

Meanwhile, after the second semi final match, the Kohima Town Club (KTC), organizers of the ongoing tournament, and Kohima Press Club (KPC) will play an exhibition match in memory of deceased senior journalist Xavier Rutsa.

The 3rd Xavier Rutsa memorial is a friendly football match between the two clubs, and is organized as a tribute to former journalist Xavier Rutsa, one of the founding members of both the clubs, who passed away in 2018.

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