Inter-Ward Football Tournament: Sangtemla, Sungkomen advance to semis

Published on Apr 1, 2025

Players of Sungkomen (black and white jersey) and Kumlong (red jersey) in action during the fourth quarter-final match at Imkongmeren Sports Complex, Mokokchung on Tuesday.
MOKOKCHUNG — The Inter-Ward Football Tournament 2025 quarter-finals were played on Tuesday at Imkongmeren Sports Complex in Mokokchung, featuring two pulsating matches that saw Sangtemla and Sungkomen secure their places in the semifinals.
Sangtemla triumphed over Artang in a nail-biting 5-3 tie-breaker, while Sungkomen outlasted Kumlong 2-1 in a thrilling comeback.
The opener pitted Sangtemla against Artang. Artang held a slight edge in possession, dictating the tempo with crisp passing, but their forwards lacked the killer instinct in front of goal.
Sangtemla’s attack, equally potent, mirrored their opponents’ struggle, firing blanks despite carving out promising chances. As the clock ticked down, neither side could break the deadlock, forcing the match into a high-stakes tie-breaker.

Sangtemla’s shooters rose to the occasion slotting home all five attempts. Artang, however, faltered under the spotlight—fourth shooter Yashimeren’s miss proved costly, sending Sangtemla through to the semifinals.

The second match saw Sungkomen face off against Kumlong. The breakthrough came in the 36th minute when Kumlong’s Medemshiba pounced inside the D-box, rifling a shot past the keeper to ignite the crowd. Sungkomen stormed back in the 49th minute when Takasungba soared above the defence to nod in a perfectly executed free kick, levelling the score.
The decisive moment arrived in the 54th minute: a pinpoint long ball from Sungkomen’s goalkeeper found skipper Tarepnungsang, who outran Kumlong’s backline and slotted home with composure, clinching a 2-1 victory and a semifinal berth.