PANGTING, MON — The 18th M. Noke Wangnao Memorial Trophy 2026 has its finalists.And if the two semi-finals are anything to go by, Monday’s championship clash is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament.
EIPA United FC and Mavericks FC have booked their places in the final after two very different semi-final battles at the Pangting Astro Turf in Mon Village.
EIPA United produced an extraordinary attacking display to defeat Tehok FC 7–5 in a twelve-goal classic, while Mavericks FC secured their final berth with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Langsa Hill Sporting Club.
The contrast could hardly have been greater — one semi-final was a goal avalanche, the other decided by a single moment.But both delivered the same outcome.EIPA United and Mavericks are going to the final.
EIPA and Tehok Deliver a Semi-Final for the Ages
The first semi-final turned into a footballing spectacle almost immediately. EIPA United FC came flying out of the blocks, with Eshong opening the scoring in the 3rd minute. The forward struck again in the 16th minute before adding a third in the 22nd, completing an early hat-trick and putting EIPA firmly in control.
Tehok, however, refused to disappear. Ayenmongba pulled one back in the 9th minute before Amun found the net in the 12th and 38th minutes, keeping Tehok within touching distance.
At the break, the match had already produced the kind of scoreline normally associated with a full 90 minutes.
It was nowhere near finished.EIPA restored their advantage through Yeangphong, who scored in the 36th minute, before David added another in the 52nd. Then came another Tehok response.
Ayenmongba completed his own hat-trick with goals in the 83rd and 85th minutes, turning the closing stages into a frantic shootout. EIPA, though, had just enough in reserve.
Hriata struck in the 67th minute and Arap added EIPA’s seventh in the 77th, ensuring that Tehok’s late surge would not be enough. When the final whistle arrived, EIPA United had prevailed 7–5.
Twelve goals.Two hat-tricks.And one unforgettable semi-final.
Ayenmongba Keeps the Golden Boot Race Alive
While EIPA United celebrated their place in the final, Tehok’s Ayenmongba walked away with another major personal milestone. His three goals against EIPA took his tournament tally to eight goals, moving him to the top of the scoring charts.
That puts the Tehok forward ahead of Mavericks’ Pangteih, who currently has seven goals. EIPA United’s Eshong sits third with six goals after his hat-trick in the semi-final, while Tehok’s Tingkaochun Gangmei and Langsa Hill’s Homang have six and five respectively.
The top-scorer standings now add another layer of intrigue to the final. With Ayenmongba and Tehok eliminated, Pangteih has a chance to reclaim the scoring lead for Mavericks, while Eshong still has an opportunity to close the gap if he finds the net in the final.
Current Top Scorers
1. Ayenmongba (Tehok FC) — 8 goals2. Pangteih (Mavericks FC) — 7 goals3. Eshong (EIPA United FC) — 6 goals4. Tingkaochun Gangmei (Tehok FC) — 6 goals5. Homang (Langsa Hill Sporting Club) — 5 goals6. Manyem (Tehok FC) — 5 goals7. Gaipulan Dangmei (Mavericks FC) — 4 goals
The Golden Boot race is therefore far from settled.
Mavericks Make Their Statement Without the Drama
If EIPA’s semi-final was chaos, Mavericks’ route to the final was the complete opposite. The second semi-final between Langsa Hill Sporting Club and Mavericks FC was a tense, closely contested affair, with both sides knowing that one mistake could decide everything. And eventually, it did.
The only goal of the match arrived in the 36th minute, when Mavericks’ leading scorer Pangteih found the breakthrough. Langsa Hill pushed for an equaliser, but Mavericks held firm to protect their narrow advantage.
The final score:Langsa Hill Sporting Club 0–1 Mavericks FC. No late drama. No goal rush. Just a disciplined Mavericks performance that was enough to carry them into the biggest game of the tournament.
EIPA United vs Mavericks FC: The Final Is Set
The final now brings together two sides that have taken very different routes to the championship match. EIPA United FC arrive with momentum, attacking firepower and the confidence of scoring seven goals in their semi-final. Mavericks FC, meanwhile, have shown that they can win the tight games — and they have one of the tournament’s most dangerous forwards in Pangteih.
There is also history between the two clubs. The rivalry between EIPA United and Mavericks FC has already attracted plenty of attention around the tournament, and now the two sides have the ultimate stage on which to settle it.
For EIPA, the objective is clear: turn their attacking momentum into the trophy. For Mavericks, it is about completing the job after another composed knockout-stage performance.
And with Eshong and Pangteih both chasing the Golden Boot, the final could have an individual storyline of its own.
One Match. One Trophy. One Champion.
The 18th M. Noke Wangnao Memorial Trophy 2026 will conclude on Monday, August 24, with EIPA United FC taking on Mavericks FC at Pangting Astro Turf, Mon Village.
Kick-off is scheduled for 1:00 PM.
After a semi-final round that produced 13 goals across two matches, the tournament now comes down to one final contest.
EIPA United have already shown they can win a goal-fest.Mavericks have shown they can survive a battle.
Now, only one question remains:Who lifts the 18th M. Noke Wangnao Memorial Trophy?
The final awaits.And after everything this tournament has produced so far, it would be brave to expect anything ordinary.
