New Delhi: At least one team from North East has been assured a berth in the under-14 final of the 53rd Subroto Cup Football tournament after Greenwood Higher Secondary School, Nagaland and Tumpui Middle School, Mizoram booked a semifinal date on Saturday.
Group II winners Greenwood needed an extra time strike from Lelen to pip North Eastern School, Manipur in the first quarterfinal while Tumpui got the better of NCC, West Bengal 1-0 in the other quarterfinal.
The first quarterfinal between the two North East teams was expected to be an exciting affair given the fact that both the teams had been on a scoring spree in the group stages and they did not disappoint. Though goals were difficult to come, there was no lack of effort from either side.
It was Greenwood who stuck first with young Nyithung finding the net in the 18th minutes. The goal meant that the Manipur side had to step on the gas and they did just that. They were duly rewarded for their efforts when the referee awarded them a penalty after their striker was obstructed inside the box and Sundaynoon slotted the ball in to restore parity.
It was a battle of attrition from there on, and it looked like the match would go into penalties till Lelen sent the team into wild celebration with a clinical finish.
In the second quarterfinal, Tumpui dominated the proceedings throughout the match and a 30thminute strike by Zomuanpuia was enough to take them through to the semifinal.
In Group VI, Afghanistan kept alive their hope of qualifying for the last eight stage with a clinical 4-1 victory over Namchi Sports Hostel, Sikkim.
Mahdi Ahmadi was the star of the Afghanistan squad scoring all the four goals. He began the team’s march with two quick goals in the seventh and ninth minute and then completed the tally with strikes in the 22nd and 37th minute.
Pratap Kr Tamang scored the consolation goal for the Sikkim team in the 33rd minute.
Afghanistan’s passage to the quarterfinals would now be dependent upon the last league encounter between Football Academy School, Orissa and Namchi Sports School. Orissa will have to win the match by a margin of four goals or more to advance.
By Indian Sports News Network