AIFF Media Team

NARAINPUR, CHHATTISGARH: Bengal won their 18th title at the Junior Boys’ National Football Championship Tier 1 for Dr. B.C. Roy Trophy, after defeating Odisha 2-0 in the final at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground, in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh, on Monday, August 12, 2024.

The last time Bengal lifted the Dr. B.C. Roy Trophy was in 2003-04, when they got the better of Karnataka. Since then, the side from the east have ended runners-up on five occasions.

In a closely contested encounter between the two sides, Bengal’s prolific striker Subhodip Sardar, who had scored the winner in Bengal’s semi-final win against Punjab, made the difference again, netting a goal in each half. Sardar put Bengal’s nerves at ease early in the match, putting his side in the lead in the second minute itself.

He added a second goal late on in the second half (72nd minute), when a mix-up in the Odisha defence saw Sardar gain possession of the ball near the six-yard box. Despite the proximity to goal, Sardar had a rather acute angle to shoot at, and eventually succeeded in doubling his side’s lead after a deflection off Odisha goalkeeper Uday Ekka’s feet helped the ball over the line.

Bengal: Arnab Roy, Samir Sardar, Aditya Mondal, Thakurdas Hansda, Sayan Ghosh, Sabyasachi Dhar, Satyajit Das (C), Sagun Hembram (Debajit Dutta 64’), Anish Das (Avrodip Barman 90+1’), Masud Ali, Subhodip Sardar (Deepanjan Datta 90+4’).

Odisha: Uday Ekka, Prempiyush Bagh (C), Sambhunath Majhi, Jenga Lakra, Papu Munda (Manish Bhoi 77’), Rahul Kusuma, Kabir Lakra, Aman Lakra (Prasanjit Bada 63’), Montu Nag (Viky Majhi 77’), Naresh Kumar Dhan, Akash Sahoo.

Odisha, Delhi begin with wins in Jr Girls’ NFC Tier 1

ANANTAPUR, ANDHRA PRADESH: Odisha beat Chhattisgarh 4-2 in the first match of Group D or the Junior Girls’ NFC Tier 1, at the RDT Stadium in Anantapur. Odisha led 3-0 at the break.

Captain Thandamoni Baskey (14’, 43’, 56’) was on form for Odisha, scoring a hat-trick to lead her side to the win, while Rupashree Munda (20’) scored the other goal. Chhattisgarh’s Hembati Baghel (67’, 81’) mounted a late comeback for her side, but Odisha’s managed to hold on to their two-goal lead till the end.

In the second match from Group D, Delhi dished out an 11-0 thrashing to Mizoram. The side from the capital led 7-0 at half-time.

Lhingdeikim (17’, 48’, 51’) and Esther Tingjoukim (7’, 45+2’, 70’) scored a hat-trick each, while captain Deepika Pal (6’, 25’) netted two. Samriddhi Tripathi (31’), Yana Singh (45’), and Hemlata (81’) scored one each.

After the first round of matches in Group D, Delhi and Odisha are tied on three points apiece, though the former currently occupy the top spot by dint of a better goal difference.

Tuesday, August 13, 2024 fixtures:

Junior Girls’ Tier 1: Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh

Group B: Haryana vs Goa (9 am); Bengal vs Manipur (3 pm)