MON VILLAGE — The field has been cut down to four, and the 18th M. Noke Wangnao Memorial Trophy 2026 is now heading towards its defining weekend.
Four quarter-final matches produced 21 goals, two emphatic clean sheets and one statement victory as EIPA United FC, Tehok FC, Mavericks FC and Langsa Hill Sporting Club booked their places in Saturday’s semi-finals.
And judging by the way the quarter-finals unfolded, there is very little separating ambition from history now.
EIPA United survive Mighty challenge
EIPA United FC opened the quarter-final action with a 3–1 victory over FC Mighty.Huna put EIPA ahead in the 9th minute before FC Mighty responded through Changlang in the 23rd minute.
But EIPA regained control after the break.Eshong restored the lead in the 68th minute before striking again nine minutes later to complete his brace and seal EIPA’s place in the last four.The result also pushed Eshong’s tournament tally to four goals, keeping him firmly among the leading scorers.
Mavericks march into the semis
Mavericks FC were next to punch their ticket, defeating Tizit Village 2–0.Gaipulan Dangmei broke the deadlock in the 10th minute, giving Mavericks the perfect start.Tizit Village stayed in the contest, but Mavericks eventually found the decisive second goal through Pangteih in the 79th minute.
With another goal added to his tally, Pangteih moved to six goals for the tournament, putting himself among the competition’s leading marksmen.
Tehok deliver the statement of the quarter-finals
If there was one result that demanded attention, it was Match 16.Tehok FC dismantled Naolen FC 7–1 in a breathtaking attacking display.Tingkaochun Gangmei opened the scoring after just six minutes and struck again two minutes later.
Ayenmongba then joined the party in the 16th and 21st minutes before Timothy added another in the 26th.Tingkaochun Gangmei completed his hat-trick in the 29th minute, putting Tehok six goals ahead before half-time.
Naolen managed a response through Amuk in the 10th minute, but Tehok had the final word as Chingkei Konyak scored in stoppage time to complete the 7–1 rout.
The performance sent a clear message to the rest of the competition: Tehok are not simply in the semi-finals — they are arriving with momentum.
Langsa Hill keep another clean sheet
Langsa Hill Sporting Club completed the semi-final line-up with a commanding 4–0 victory over Hollong FC.
Homang needed only six minutes to put Langsa Hill ahead and doubled the advantage four minutes later.
The second half saw Langsa Hill continue to press, with Pangai extending the lead in the 75th minute before Abu completed the scoring four minutes later.Another clean sheet. Another convincing performance.Langsa Hill now enter the semi-finals having shown they can control matches at both ends of the pitch.
The Semi-Final Showdowns
Saturday now brings two heavyweight clashes at the Pangting Astro Turf Ground.
EIPA United FC vs Tehok FC12:00 PM — Saturday, 22 August
This is arguably the tie with the most explosive attacking potential.EIPA arrive after beating FC Mighty 3–1, while Tehok enter after their extraordinary 7–1 demolition of Naolen.
Tehok’s attacking numbers are particularly frightening, with Tingkaochun Gangmei already on six goals and Ayenmongba on five.But EIPA have their own threat in Eshong, who has four goals so far.Something will have to give.
Mavericks FC vs Langsa Hill SC2:30 PM — Saturday, 22 August
The afternoon semi-final brings together two sides who have already demonstrated their defensive strength.
Mavericks eliminated Tizit Village 2–0, while Langsa Hill swept aside Hollong FC 4–0.
Mavericks will have Pangteih to lead their attacking charge, with the forward sitting on six goals in the tournament.
Langsa Hill, meanwhile, have Homang — also on six goals — spearheading their attack.Two sides. Two prolific forwards. One place in the final.
The Golden Boot Race Is Heating Up
With the semi-finals upon us, the race for the tournament’s top scorer is becoming just as intriguing as the race for the trophy.
Top scorers so far:- Pangteih — 6 (Mavericks FC)- Tingkaochun Gangmei — 6 (Tehok FC)- Homang — 6 (Langsa Hill SC)- Ayenmongba — 5 (Tehok FC)- Manyem — 5 (Tehok FC)- Eshong — 4 (EIPA United FC)- Gaipulan Dangmei — 4 (Mavericks FC)
And with four of those teams still chasing the trophy, the Golden Boot race is far from settled.
The quarter-finals gave us goals, big performances and one spectacular seven-goal statement.Now, only four remain.EIPA United FC. Tehok FC. Mavericks FC. Langsa Hill SC.
Two semi-finals.One final.And one champion waiting to be crowned.
The 18th M. Noke Wangnao Memorial Trophy is entering its business end — and Saturday promises to be anything but ordinary.
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