MOKOKCHUNG, Oct 23: Defending champions Mon marched into the semi-finals of the 25th Dr T Ao Trophy Inter-District Football Championship 2026 with a 4-2 win over Longleng, while Zunheboto pulled off a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory against Kohima in Friday’s quarter-finals at Renpo Lu Sports Complex, Ungma.
Mon produced a dominant second-half performance to put the contest beyond Longleng’s reach, scoring four goals in a 20-minute spell.
Eshong opened the scoring in the 49th minute with a rebound header before doubling Mon’s lead in the 63rd minute with a free-kick that struck the crossbar and went in.
Tingshak made it 3-0 in the 67th minute, and L Nyamnyeu added another two minutes later to give the defending champions a commanding four-goal cushion.
Longleng mounted a late fightback, with Henpang scoring in the 76th minute and B Mantong finding the net in first-half stoppage time at 90+1. The late goals, however, could not prevent Mon from sealing a 4-2 victory.
Zunheboto, meanwhile, had to fight back after Kohima took the lead in the 33rd minute through Noulevituo.
Kohima carried its 1-0 advantage into half-time, but Zunheboto levelled the score through Mancholen in the 51st minute.
With both teams pushing for a winner, Hikupu struck in the 92nd minute to complete Zunheboto’s comeback and book its semi-final berth.
The remaining quarter-finals will be played on Saturday, October 24, at the same venue, with Wokha facing Peren at 3 pm and Phek taking on Tuensang at 6 pm.
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