AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: The AIFF Regional Academy’s winning streak stretched to seven games as they recorded an emphatic 5-2 win against Kenkre FC u-19 in Round Seven of the Under-19 I-League 2014.

Despite having secured qualification to the next round courtesy of their unassailable seven point lead over the chasing pack, the Academy youngsters did not show any signs of slowing down as they recorded an identical score-line against the visiting Kenkre FC as they had in the previous meeting between the two sides at the Goans Sports Ground.

Milan Basumatary opened the scoring as early as the 12^th minute with a flicked header off Shabaz Khan’s cross from the left flank. Ten minutes later and the lead got doubled courtesy of a cool finish by Rakesh Oram inside the penalty area. The winger was quickest to react to a rebound and finished instinctively.

Kenkre FC pushed forward in an effort to work their way back into the game and their efforts bore fruit in the 40^th minute when Ashraf Ali unleashed an unstoppable effort from thirty yards out which left the ‘keeper with no chance as it smashed into the back of the net.

The AIFF colts were quickest out of the blocks from the re-start as they found the back of the net again in the 48^th minute. Milan’s inch-perfect cross from the right flank was volleyed home by winger Suman Sarkar to make it 3-1.

It was 4-1 in the 54^th with Milan back in the thick of action. His low cross across the face of goal was bundled in by an opposition defender for an unfortunate own goal.

Second half substitute Prasanth K scored the Academy team’s fifth with a fine individual effort in the 78^th minute, taking on the entire Kenkre FC defence before striking a powerful shot into the top corner.

Kenkre grabbed a consolation in the closing minutes of the game thanks to an impressive solo goal by Arish Sutaria in the 87^th minute, dribbling past two AIFF defenders and finishing with clinical precision in a one-on-one situation from fifteen yards out.

The win takes the AIFF Regional Academy up to twenty one points in the league standings. With qualification to the next round already confirmed, what remains to be seen is whether these youngsters can finish off their qualifying round with a perfect record in what is their maiden campaign in the Under-19 I-League.