Kohima, Nov. 18 (EMN): Kwethelhi Thopi scored four goals and Kezhose Mathew nets a hat-trick as two times former champions New Market XI dismantled St Joseph's College, Jakhama 9-0 in the second semifinal match to enter the final of the ongoing 23rd Classic Cup at the Kohima local ground on Saturday.
With the win, New Market XI will face Barak FC Peren in the final of the tournament on Nov. 20. In the match, St Joseph started the match brightly but failure to deal with the long ball gave New Market to take the lead as Kezhose seized the opportunity to breach the defensive line and score the first goal in the 16th minute for New Market.
Medoneituo Sekhose then scored a stunning free kick outside the area in the 24th minute to double the lead for New Market.
St Joseph’s side failed to deal with the pace of the New Market strikers as Kezhose rose to the occasion to score another goal through a sloppy defense in the 33rd minute to score his second goal. He went on to score his hat-trick in the 36th minute to end the first half with 4-0.
Despite numerous attempts in the first half, Thopi failed to seize the opportunity that came his way to find the back of the net.
However, the second half, Thopi regained his momentum to score his first goal in the 50th minute and added his second goal two minutes later through a spot kick conversion for a handball inside the area as the referee awarded a penalty and he cooly converted the penalty. Thopi completed his hat-trick in the 69th minute to fire home the seventh goal for New Market. While Kezhose unselfishly set up Thopi to score his fourth goal in the 73rd minute.
Thopi could have scored more goals as his teammates helped him to convert to become the highest goal scorer of the tournament but he failed in his attempt. Substitute Vekruto Resu rounded up the match by scoring the ninth goal in the 82nd minute for New Market to complete the rout.
With four goals in a match, Kwethelhi Thopi becomes the joint highest goal scorer of the tournament along with Tamthing of St Joseph’s College with nine goals each, but Thopi has the upper hand to become the highest goal scorer in the tournament if he can score in the final match on Monday.
