New Delhi: Club sides have a tendency to keep it straight and simple with a safety-first approach. And it was very much visible in the matches of the 57th Subroto Cup International Football Tournament, being played at the NWC and Dr. Ambedkar Stadium here today. 

 

Of the two afternoon matches at the Dr. Ambedkar Stadium, FC Pune City had an easy outing against DDFC and it reflected in the score as the Pune side won 5-0 and Indonesia’s JalanHarsono RM Komplek downed DSK Shivajians LIFA 2-0. At the NWC, however, Afghanistan National Football Team scored a 2-0 win over MohunBagan SFA and ShillongLajong FC went past Tata Football Academy with a solitary goal.

Pune City boys, too, were cautious, to begin with and when they went for interval, they had just a goal to account coming in the injury time off the boots of LelsembaMeetei. But on return, not only did they dominate but also struck four more, all shots at the goal coming from BuanthanglunSamte. In the process, he also completed a hat-trick.  

The Indonesians scrapped through, thanks to EgiMaulana’s brace. He struck in quick succession in the 56th and 58th minutes and saw through the rest of the period without a hassle. 

Similarly, the Afghan boys kept a tight leash on their Bagan Academy rivals and struck through Said Ramin, both goals coming in the first half while Shillong hung on to the 16th minute goal from Denboklang to log full points. 

Earlier in the morning, Government High School boys from Mizoram decimated Government Senior Secondary School from the Car Nicobar scoring 25 times without a response. There were eight players who made winning contributions. Of which C Lalduhawma scored seven goals, followed by Zothansanga (5) and VL Remruata (4). The rest were shared by Lalmaisawmtwanga (1) withSilvnarLalruatkima, HK Lalhruaitluanga, Lalruatfelatlah and Lalrintluanga scoring a brace each. 

In other morning matches played at the NWC, Indian Railways School from Siliguri were held goalless by DG NCC, Namchi Public School from south Sikkim scored a 2-1 victory over Bangladesh DefenceShaheen College. BishalRai and Gyurmee S. Bhutia scored once each in either half after MustafizurRahman had put the Dhaka side in lead in the 30th minute.

At the Dr. Ambedkar Stadium, SAI team continued their winning ways when they beat Air Force BalBalBharti School (New Delhi) 4-3 in a tough battle.  At the receiving end for a long time, SAI’s Arif struck the equalizer in the 59th minute after AFBBS led 3-2 and two minutes later Harshal found the winner to the disappointment of the Delhi outfit.

Earlier, Piyush had put SAI in command but Karan (2) and Ajay had seized the initiative from them until Arif intervened.

UkhrulHr Sec School from Manipur asserted their supremacy against MWE Higher Secondary School from Bihar with an 8-1 score line. KhangatirTsungshaand Mayon fired in three goals each and they were joined by C. Ayat and La Chhandhag to increase the tally. Mohammad Dilsher struck a consolation goal for Bihar from minutes from time.

In a dull outing, SudhannyaDebbarma Memorial HS School from Tripura defeated Shri Guru Govind Singh Sports College from UP 1-0, with VatraSadhan finding the target.