AIFF Media Team

NARAINPUR: Odisha saw off a late charge by Mizoram in the Junior Boys’ National Football Championship for BC Roy Trophy Tier 1, to clinch the top spot in Group A, winning 3-2 at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground, in Narainpur, on Monday, July 29, 2024.

With this win, Odisha clinched the semi-final spot from Group A, having scored six points from their two matches in the three-team group.

Odisha scored two early goals through Montu Nag (15’) and Aman Lakra (22’) to take a firm grip of the match. With the half-time break approaching, Naresh Kumar Dhan (40’) was played through behind the Mizoram defence, and did well to chip it over Rinzuala to score the third.

Mizoram were more composed in the second half, and pulled two goals back through Vansangpuia Ralte (52’) and Francis Lalhruaizela (90+3’), but it was too little, too late.

Advantage J&K in Tier 2 Group B

NAGAON: Jammu and Kashmir produced a dominant 5-2 victory against Gujarat, while Tripura drew Madhya Pradesh 2-2 in Tier 2 of the Junior Boys’ National Football Championship for BC Roy Trophy at the Nurul Amin Stadium, in Nagaon, Assam.

Playing their first match of the tournament, Jammu and Kashmir produced a fine showing against Gujarat, with a Zeeshan Anwar Lone (36’, 45+1’) brace. Mohamad Hamza (33’), Sahil Hussain Bhat (63’), and Aazim Parveez Najar (69’) scored the other three. Adison Meetei (12’) and Vedant Gujjar (90+5’) scored for Gujarat.

Madhya Pradesh took the lead twice, but could not hold on to it against Tripura, who banked on a brace by captain Bonglal Ril Halam (62’, 68’). Anubhav Kanti (4’) and Md. Jeheruddin (64’) scored one each for Madhya Pradesh.

Jammu and Kashmir, who played their first match of the campaign on Monday, move to then top of Group B with three points, followed by Tripura and Madhya Pradesh, who have a point apiece.

Karnataka, UP, Rajasthan, Maharashtra win big in Jr Women’s NFC Tier 2

BELGAUM: It was a day of big margins at the Sporting Planet Lovedale School Ground in Belgaum, Karnataka, as Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra scored big wins against Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Tripura, and Pondicherry, respectively.

Hosts Karnataka made it two wins from as many matches, defeating Chandigarh 11-0. Maitreyi Palasamundram (4’, 50, 61’, 77’, 87’) was the star of the show. Medha Gupta (33’, 54’) chipped in with two goals, while Rheanna Liz Jacob (19’), captain Advika Kanojia (31’), Annika Navneet Prakash Srivastava (89’), and H. Yashica (90+1’) scored one each.

Uttar Pradesh were utterly dominant with a 15-0 win against Jammu and Kashmir. Kumari Komal (10’, 20’, 29’, 85’) had four goals to her name, but incredibly, two other players from Uttar Pradesh managed to score hat-tricks as well – captain Anchal Patel (5’, 33’, 90+4’) and Shabana (7’, 18’, 60’). Khushi Rai (45+5’, 55’) and Sarita (47’, 53’) scored two each, and Ritika (70’) added one.

Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka now occupy the top two spots in Group A, having won two games each from as many matches.

Rajasthan, unlike the two winners of Group A, fell just two short of double digits, as they beat Tripura 8-0 in their Group B match-up. Captain Sanju Kanwar (7’, 18’), forward Manju Kanwar (19’, 20’), and substitute Bhanu Priya (73’, 78’) scored a brace each, while Suman Kanwar (2’) and Lichhmi Kanwar (11’) scored one goal apiece.

Maharashtra beat Pondicherry 9-1 to complete the last match of the day, riding braces from Aditi Prakash Dhere (23’, 34’) and Shriya More (77’, 89’). Harleen Kaur Sokhi (30’), Alisha Mehta (36’), Gauri Gaurav (49’), and Sanaya Irani (90+2’) scored one each for Maharashtra, while Narmadha (9’) of Pondicherry scored an own goal. Pondicherry’s Semmozhi D (90+1’) scored a consolation goal at the end.

Maharashtra and Rajasthan now move to the top two sports in Group B, respectively, pushing Tripura down to third.

Tuesday, July 30, 2024 fixtures

Junior Boys’ NFC for BC Roy Trophy 2024-25

Tier 1, Narainpur, Chhattisgarh

Group C: Karnataka vs Chandigarh (8am), Meghalaya vs Punjab (3pm), Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground

Tier 2, Nagaon, Assam

Group A: Lakshadweep vs Nagaland (8am), Haryana vs Manipur (2pm), Nurul Amin Stadium Ground 2

Group C: Andhra Pradesh vs Sikkim (10am), Assam vs Himachal Pradesh (4pm), Nurul Amin Stadium Ground 1