By Joseph Solomon,

AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: Delhi started their 37^th Sub-Junior National Football Championship campaign with a win as they steamrolled Tamil Nadu 6-0 in the first match of Group A on April 10, 2016 at the Ambedkar Stadium in the Capital.

The Delhi lads surged ahead in the 34^th minute when forward Pratyaksh Pathaki burst onto goal after an inch-perfect through ball released from the midfield, and slotted the ball past the Tamil Nadu custodian to make the scoreline read 1-0.

Soon after Delhi doubled their lead as Harsh Tomar tapped his opportunity home after a delicious cross from the left flank in the 36^th minute.  

Delhi could have scored more in the first half, but attacking opportunities were seldom finished. In the 4^th minute, Dhruv failed to convert with only the Tamil Nadu custodian to beat and no sign of the Tamil Nadu defence. In the 25^th minute, Harsh Tomar’s header following a corner kick scenario flied whiskers past the goal.

With Delhi dominating possession, Tamil Nadu initiated counter attacks on the Delhi citadel. The best chance of the first half for Tamil Nadu came in the 40^th minute when striker Samuel Raj missed a sitter, as he miscued his opportunity with the goal at his mercy.

The half-time scoreline read 2-0 in favour of Delhi. And in the 56^th minute, a Suraj shot which ricocheted off the Tamil Nadu defence line and ended up in the back of the net, made it 3-0 for Delhi.

Shortly after, Tamil Nadu were left reeling at their chance of minimizing their deficit as Delhi’s custodian made an top-draw point blank save to deny Samuel Raj’s thumping header.

In the 73^rd minute, Harsh Tomar steered clear of the opponent defence onto goal, but failed to slot his opportunity past the Tamil Nadu custodian.

Three minutes later, Yuvraj Negi scored a sterling goal as he ran 30 yards with the ball, beating Tamil Nadu defender after defender, and finally the Tamil Nadu custodian to give Delhi an unassailable 4-0 advantage.

The fourth goal knocked the stuffing out of Tamil Nadu and even quelled hopes of holding possession, as Delhi’s midfield constantly robbed the ball off from the Tamil Nadu players. Two back to back goals in the 80^th and the 89^th minute for Delhi made the full-time scoreline read 6-0.