AIFF Media Team

BELGAUM, KARNATAKA: Hosts Karnataka kept up their rampant goalscoring ways with another big win in Group A of the Junior Girls’ National Football Championship 2024-25, Tier 2, at the Sporting Planet Lovedale School Ground in Belgaum, Karnataka, on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.

With this win, Karnataka have strengthened their claim for a place in the semi-finals having collected nine points from three matches and have scored 48 goals without conceding any. Chandigarh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra were the other big winners on the day. 

In the day's first game, in Group A, Chandigarh beat Jammu and Kashmir 5-1 riding high on Sanjana's hat trick. The striker scored the opening goal in the 10th minute and added two more to her tally in the 48th and 85th minute in the second half. Ridhneet Kaur (73') and Gitanshi Jyoti set Chandigarh up for a huge victory before Prachi Sharma salvaged some pride for J and K with a goal in the 84th minute.

Hosts Karnataka laid on a goalscoring masterclass, putting 21 goals past Andaman and Nicobar. In a game where as many as eight Karnataka players got on the scoresheet, Maitreyi Palasamudram caught the eye with a majestic six-goal haul (50', 52', 72', 79', 83, 87'). Rheanna Liz (38', 39', 45'+4'), Tanvi Nair (36', 45'+3', 76' pen) and second half substitute Ruthu Sreenandan (57', 89',90') were the others who got hat tricks in the game.

In the third game of the day, in Group B, Rajasthan beat Pondicherry 3-0 in a scoreline that belies the tough nature of the encounter itself. It took Rajasthan the best part of the opening half to open up a resolute Pondicherry side as captain Sanju Kanwar finally got the opener in the 42nd minute. In the second half, neither side managed to get any goals till late in the game when two quick goals by Suman Kanwar (81') and Bhawana Kanwar (86') killed the game and gave Rajasthan a deserved victory.

In the day's final game, Maharashtra beat Tripura 6-1 in Group B. In a shock of sorts it was Tripura who actually took the lead in the game, Kunti Urang scoring in the 13th minute to give her team the lead. From there on, Maharashtra took over. Harleen Kaur's hat trick (25, 70', 87') and a second half brace by Sanaya Irani (59', 65') were enough to record a dominant victory. 

Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat register contrasting wins

NAGAON, ASSAM: Jammu and Kashmir and Gujarat registered big victories in their group stage matches in the Junior Boys’ National Football Championship for BC Roy Trophy 2024-25, Tier 2 at the Nurul Amin Stadium, in Nagaon, Assam, on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.

J and K were the big winners of the day, producing another dominant performance to trounce Uttarakhand 3-0 in their Group B game and notch up their second consecutive win. In a tightly fought first half, J and K captain Aazim Parveez broke the deadlock with a goal in the 42nd minute to give his side the lead. Within 10 minutes of the second half, J and K had a penalty coolly converted by Parveez, before Mir Mujhtuba Hussain added the gloss on a brilliant performance with a third goal in the 76th minute. 

In the other Group B game, Gujarat beat Tripura 5-3 in a high-scoring encounter. The two teams traded goals almost like boxers, trading punches, each score met by the other. First, Kitamcha Toijam scored the opener in the 6th minute, only to see it cancelled by Tripura's Amarjit Debbarma  in the 12th. The duo were playing a game within the game with Toijam scoring another in the 34th before Debbarma equalised in the 35th. Gujarat's slender lead arrived via a first half injury time goal from Vedant Gajjar. In the 59th minute though Tripura drew level again, when Bonglal Ril Halam put away a penalty. Two late goals by Thounaojam Albish Singh (78') and Eric Joji (87') put the game beyond Tripura though as Gujarat took home full points. 

Mizoram end campaign with a win

NARAINPUR, CHHATTISGARH: Defending champions Uttar Pradesh bowed out of the Junior Boys’ National Football Championship for BC Roy Trophy 2024-25, Tier 1, when they went down to Mizoram 1-4 in their concluding Group A fixture at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama ground on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.  

In the three-team group, Odisha have already qualified for the semi-finals with two wins under their belt.

In the match of little consequence, An early goal from Zoramdinthara in the eighth minute put Mizoram ahead, but the holders responded in style with Mohammed Sameer Khan scoring an equaliser in the 36th minute. A penalty converted by Lalrammawupuia deep into first half injury time gave Mizoram the lead again. From there they shifted gears, Lalzarzokima (53') and C Lalkhawnghaia (83') adding the goals that gave them a comfortable win.

Thursday, August 1, 2024 fixtures:

Jr Boys' NFC for BC Roy Trophy

Tier 1, Narainpur, Chhattisgarh

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

Jr Boys' NFC for BC Roy Trophy

Tier 2, Nagaon, Assam

Group A: Nagaland vs Haryana (8 am); Andaman & Nicobar vs Lakshadweep (2 pm): Nurul Amin Stadium, Ground 2

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

Jr Girls' NFC 2024-25

Tier 2, Belgaum, Karnataka

Group C: Assam vs Telangana (8 am); Uttarakhand vs Punjab (11 am); Sporting Planet Lovedale Central School Ground Group D: Sikkim vs Madhya Pradesh (2 pm); Sporting Planet Lovedale Central School Ground