AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: Mizoram and Rajasthan were victorious on the first matchday of Group F in the Swami Vivekananda U-20 Men's National Football Championship at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground on Sunday, May 12, 2024.

While Mizoram defeated Meghalaya 5-0, Rajasthan edged Maharashtra 2-1. By dint of these results, Mizoram currently occupy the top spot in Group F, followed by Rajasthan; both teams are on three points apiece.

Lalthankima hat-trick floors Meghalaya

Mizoram 5 (Lalthankima 26’, 33’, 47’, Lalngaihsaka 54’, C Zomuanpuia 83’)
beat
Meghalaya 0

Mizoram began their U20 NFC campaign with a massive 5-0 victory over Meghalaya. Captain Lalthankima was the hero of the day, netting three goals.

It was more of an even contest at the start, but a speedy run by Lalthankima on a counter left the Meghalaya defence gasping, as the striker entered the box and poked the ball between the keeper’s legs to break the deadlock in the 26th minute. Lalthakima used his pace again in the 33rd, when he was played through behind the Meghalaya defence again, and this time, he rounded the keeper and scored from a rather tight angle.

It was not all about raw pace for Lalthankima, and he showed that after the restart, as he latched on to a stray clearance at the edge of the Meghalaya penalty and buried his shot in the bottom corner in the 47th minute, to complete his hat-trick.

Mizoram were in complete control of the match by then, and Lalngaihsaka and Zomuanpuia added two more to make it a 5-0 rout.

Yash Sahani screamer wins it for Rajasthan

Rajasthan 2 (Vishal Kaloshiya 45+2’, Yash Sahani 75’)
beat
Maharashtra 1 (Mohammd Jaffer Altaf Mansoor 4’)

Rajasthan came back from an early deficit to beat Maharashtra in the opening match of Group F.

Mohammd Jaffer Altaf Mansoor (4’) scored early for Maharashtra, but Rajasthan reined things back before the half-time break through Vishal Kaloshiya (45+2’) before Yash Sahani’s (75’) wonder-strike won it for the latter.

Maharashtra started off on the front foot and took the lead early on when Mohammd Jaffer slotted in a cutback by Sanket Medhe, who was played in on the left via a cross-field through ball by Om Surve.

Vishal Kaloshiya drew Rajasthan level in the injury time of the first half when he leapt above the rest and nodded in a cross from the left, as the two sides went into the tunnel with the scores level.

Tash Sahani scored an absolute screamer in the 75th minute, which turned out to be the deciding goal. Being played through on the right, Sahani entered the box and blasted his effort from a seemingly difficult angle, that flew into the top corner. Maharashtra goalkeeper Aaryan Mahtre was left with no chance of saving that.

Group G action resumes on Monday, May 13, 2024, as Arunachal Pradesh take on Madhya Pradesh at 7.30 am, and Assam face Tripura at 4 pm IST, at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground. Both matches will be streamed live on the Indian Football YouTube channel.