AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: AIFF U-18 Academy continued their winning streak in the U-19 IFA Shield when they routed U-19 Mohammedan Sporting 5-2 in a Group B encounter at the Barasat Stadium on Sunday (February 28). The winners led 2-1 at the interval.

Bedashwor Singh scored once in each half while Edmund Lalrindika, Baoringdao Bodo and substitute Prosenjit Chakraborty scored one apiece. This was the fourth consecutive victory for the AIFF colts who now await the Runners-up from the other Group in the semifinal.

Speaking to www.the-aiff.com after the match, Head Coach Floyd Pinto said everyone is “raring to go for the semifinal.”

“We made a few changes as it was a chance to rest some and test the others. Everyone is now ready and raring to go for the semifinal,” he added.

With his boys already having secured a semifinal spot, Pinto made as many as five changes to his starting line-up. The AIFF Academy boys surged into an early lead by the 9^th minute when the crafty half Nijwm dashed down the right and floated in a delightful cross for Bedashwor Singh who took a touch, poised himself and found the back of the net with a left-footer.

The goal enabled the AIFF boys to grow in confidence but much against the run of play, Sporting restored parity in the 29^th minute through Diptanu Das.

But it wasn’t late before AIFF boys struck again. They regained the lead in the 38^th minute, and this time too, it was Nijwm who did the spadework for the same. He ran past two defenders before squaring it for Edmund to tap home from close range.

Changing over, Bodo scored his second of the match in the 55^th. The Sporting defence was slow to clear a corner and Bodo who was lurking around, headed home.

Bedashowor scored his second and his Team’s fourth in the 70^th minute. Quick to spot the rival Goalkeeper off his line, he chipped it over from over 30 yards.

In the dying minutes, substitute Prosenjit made it a thumping five star performance for the Blue and Orange brigade with his first touch of the Match, a stinging left footer to complete a Edmund pass.

Mohammedan Sporting grabbed a consolation goal from the spot make the score read 5-2 at the final whistle.