AIFF Media Team

NAGAON, ASSAM: Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh topped their respective groups and qualified for the semi-finals of the Junior Boys' National Football Championship for Dr BC Roy Trophy Tier 2 at the Nurul Amin Stadium in Nagaon, Assam, on Monday, August 5, 2024.

Manipur swept aside Lakshadweep 6-0 to top Group A and confirm their spot in the semi-finals. Ngangom Washington Singh opened the scoring in the 32nd minute and MD Arish Khan (42') and Irom David Mangang (45') added two more before the break. Substitutes Yoihelba Thangjam (68') and Ningthoujam Dickson Singh (90+1') scored once each, while Mangang completed his brace (70') to wrap up a comfortable win for Manipur.

In Group C, Arunachal Pradesh required a three-goal victory over Sikkim to overtake Assam at the top of the table, and they executed exactly that. Milli Putum's fourth-minute goal gave them the perfect start before Dodum Dari added a second in the 26th minute. Finally, Hanu Tari's 65th-minute strike proved to be the decisive goal which dashed Assam's hopes and took Arunachal Pradesh through to the semi-final.

Nagaland finished Group A in second place after drubbing Andaman & Nicobar 11-0 in the afternoon kick-off. Nahpan did the bulk of the scoring with five goals to his name (9', 43', 50', 75', 90'). Thangginhao Singson scored a brace (45+1', 68'), while Moamanen (10'), Neihelie Mepfhuo (18'), Hokhovi Rhetso (30') and Joseph Lorido Janger (62') netted once each.

In Group C's dead rubber, Andhra Pradesh ended their campaign with a 2-0 win over Himachal Pradesh, who go home with four losses from four. Kamsali Akhil (29') and Kiaansh Guda (34') scored the goals for Andhra Pradesh.

The semi-final between Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh will take place on August 9.

Delhi and Maharashtra remain unbeaten in Jr Boys’ NFC Tier 1

NARAINPUR, CHHATTISGARH: Delhi and Maharashtra registered victories in Group B of the Junior Boys' National Football Championship for Dr BC Roy Trophy Tier 1 at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh, on Monday, August 5, 2024.

Delhi won narrowly against Goa 2-1, while Maharashtra ran out comfortable 4-0 winners against Jharkhand. Both teams are now on six points each.

Dishan Shabir volleyed in a loose ball inside the box in the fifth minute of first-half injury time to put Delhi ahead. In the 67th minute, Alex Fernandes converted a low cross from the right by Jayden Xavier Pinto to equalise for Goa. However, in the 86th minute, MD Aimaan Bin drilled a cross from the left and Thongram Pamheiba Khuman tapped it in from point-blank range to win the game for Delhi.

For Maharashtra, Yuvraj Kadam scored a first-half brace to set the tone for the match. After slotting in a cross from the right in the 26th minute, he scored with a stunning strike from the edge of the box which looped over the goalkeeper in the 40th minute. And that was bettered by Manthan Thapa when he noticed the Jharkhand custodian off his line and let it fly from more than 40 yards out to score Maharashtra's third. Finally, Shaunak Dhapte rounded the goalkeeper and passed it into the empty net in the 86th minute to wrap up the win.

Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand maintain blistering form in Jr Girls' NFC Tier 1

ANANTAPUR, ANDHRA PRADESH: In Group A of the Junior Girls' National Football Championship Tier 1 at the RDT Stadium in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, there was no stopping Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand on the second matchday as well.

Jharkhand handed Himachal Pradesh a 25-0 mauling. India U16 international Elizabed Lakra netted the highest tally of seven goals (28', 29', 37', 37', 72', 73', 79'). Fellow Indian youth internationals Anushka Kumari (1', 13' p, 30', 65') and Divyani Linda (34', 42', 86') scored four and three each. Alka Indwar (20', 60', 67') and Rina Toppo (47', 81', 84') also bagged hat-tricks. Skipper Viksit Bara scored a brace (41', 58'), while Priti Kumari (73') and Jonika Kumari (76') netted one each. Aahana Bhadauria scored an own goal for Himachal Pradesh (45').

Coming off the back of a whopping 20-0 triumph over Himachal Pradesh two days ago, Andhra Pradesh didn't have to break much sweat on Monday too as they saw off Bihar 3-0. Erukula Sai Varshitha gave them the early lead (11'), while Vyasapuram Nandini (77') and Tamatapu Aruna (87') scored two more in the second half.

Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh will meet on August 7 to determine who progresses into the semi-finals from Group A.

Assam book semi-final berth in Jr Girls' NFC Tier 2

BELGAUM, KARNATAKA: Assam defeated Uttarakhand 2-0 to qualify for the semi-finals of the Junior Girls' National Football Championship Tier 2 at the Sporting Planet Lovedale School Ground in Belgaum, Karnataka, on Monday, August 5, 2024.

In Group C's top-of-the-table clash, Assam broke the deadlock in the 56th minute thanks to captain Serbirika Terangpi before Arti Munda wrapped up the victory with an 85th-minute strike. Assam will face Group A winners and hosts Karnataka in the semi-final on August 7.

In the later kick-off, Punjab ensured they didn't return home empty-handed as they beat Telangana 5-0 to end the tournament on three points. Radha scored first in the 42nd minute, which opened the floodgates in the second half. Seema (48'), Janvi (51'), Gurnaz Kaur (76') and Jaskaran Kaur (90+3') completed the rout.

In another dead rubber in the three-team Group D, Meghalaya came from behind to win 2-1 against Madhya Pradesh. Lalita had given Madhya Pradesh the lead in the 26th minute. However, Meghalaya skipper and India U16 international Bonifilia Shullai equalised in the 84th minute before Eiladki Ksoo stole the late winner in the 93rd minute.

Tuesday, August 6, 2024 fixtures:

Junior Boys’ NFC for BC Roy Trophy 2024-25

Tier 1, Narainpur, Chhattisgarh
Group D: Tamil Nadu vs Chhattisgarh (8 am), Kerala vs West Bengal (3 pm)

Tier 2, Nagaon, Assam
Group B: Jammu & Kashmir vs Tripura (8 am), Uttarakhand vs Madhya Pradesh (2 pm)
Group D: Rajasthan vs Pondicherry (10 am), Bihar vs Telangana (4 pm)

Junior Girls’ NFC 2024-25

Tier 1, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh
Group C: Gujarat vs Kerala (9 am), Arunachal Pradesh vs Tamil Nadu (3 pm)