AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: The All India Football Federation U-16 Regional Academy started life at their new base in Kalyani West Bengal with three convincing victories, the latest being their 2-1 win over local outfit Shyamnagar JyotiSangha.

The U-16 Boys, who impressed one and all with their great performance for India U-16 National Team in the AFC U-16 Championship (Qualifiers) in Kuwait last year, continued in the same verve getting the better of their local rivals courtesy second half goals from substitute striker Krishna Pandit and midfielder Anirudh Thapa.

Following a barren first half in which the AIFF Boys contrived the best chances, Pandit opened the scoring ten minutes into the second half after a series of quick passes saw Bodo and Anirudh combine well on the right to set up Pandit who made no mistake from close with the goalkeeper at his mercy.

Jayananda then gave away a penalty in the last ten minutes and the opponents restored parity from the spot. But the Academy Boys fought back their advantage in injury time and this time it was Anirudh who nodded in a lucky finish as the ball squirmed past JyotiSangha’s goalkeeper.

In the first match for the boys after a six-month layoff, the colts blanked their senior counterparts Bhodreshwor U-19 Football Academy 4-1 in an utterly lopsided encounter.

The Academy Boys dominated proceedings for long spells and from the first whistle. Nuruddin opened the floodgates moments into the tie, getting on the end of Keke’s delightful cross-field pass and slotting home from inside the six-yard area.

Nuruddin was all over the opponents this time almost making it 2-0 inside the first ten minutes, trying an audacious 25-yard long-ranger which missed the target by a whisker.

Bedashwor Singh made it 2-0 dribbling past two defenders before slotting home a cool finish into the far post.

Nijwm joined the party one minute into the half-hour mark with a cute volley that sailed past the goalkeeper and into the back post. The Academy Boys led 3-0 at halftime.

Bedashwor was on target again post the breather scoring off Prosenjit Chakraborty’s teasing cross from the right flank after the latter made a brilliant run to outwit the rval left-back completely.

The opponents netted a consolation goal from the spot after a handball inside the area forced the referee to award a penalty.

In between the two matches, the U-16 Boys wasted a hatful of chances in their second game against Sebak Samiti t eventually register a 2-1 win.

A barren first half was followed by a spot kick goal minutes into after the restart with Jerry making converting his take with ease. Sebak Samiti equalised against the run of play only for the Jerry to take the lead again as he waltzed past three defenders to jab home a neat finish.