Did Maharashtra and Tripura Secure Wins in the Swami Vivekananda Men's U20 NFC?

Synopsis
Maharashtra and Tripura shine in their opening matches of the Swami Vivekananda Men’s U20 NFC, both claiming impressive victories. With thrilling goals and strategic plays, the teams set a competitive tone for the championship. Discover how these teams made their mark at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground!
Key Takeaways
- Maharashtra and Tripura both secured wins in their opening matches.
- Maharashtra won against Himachal Pradesh with a score of 2-0.
- Tripura edged past Jharkhand with a narrow 1-0 victory.
- Sikkim and Uttar Pradesh also claimed victories in their respective matches.
- Only the group winners will advance to the quarter-finals.
Narainpur (Chhattisgarh), May 12 (NationPress) Maharashtra and Tripura celebrated victories against Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand, respectively, as Group D of the Swami Vivekananda Men’s U20 National Football Championship kicked off at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground on Monday.
In the opening match, Tripura edged out Jharkhand with a score of 1-0, while Maharashtra triumphed over Himachal Pradesh with a 2-0 victory. Currently, Maharashtra and Tripura hold the top two positions in the group, whereas Jharkhand and Himachal face negative goal differences. Mizoram is yet to make their appearance in this five-team group.
Tripura initiated Group D action on Monday morning with a narrow win against Jharkhand.
After a tightly contested match, Nailson Tripura netted the decisive goal in the 68th minute, skillfully converting a setup from captain Bilash Debbarma.
Maharashtra secured their win by scoring once in each half against Himachal Pradesh during their opening match of the 2025 Swami Vivekananda Men’s U20 NFC.
Kshitij Maral struck first in the ninth minute, finishing a cross from the right flank. Following the half-time break, Keanan Bhobe scored in the 51st minute, capitalizing on an aerial through ball and slotting it home at the near post.
On Sunday, Sikkim and Uttar Pradesh started their campaigns in Group C with victories.
Sikkim defeated Ladakh 3-1, while Uttar Pradesh narrowly beat Punjab 1-0. Manipur, which will begin their campaign on Tuesday, is the other team in the five-team Group C. Only the winner of the group will advance to the quarter-finals.
At half-time, the scores were level as Sikkim's lead from Jigmet Nurboo's 19th-minute own goal was equalized by Imran Ali Khan just before the break. However, Sikkim dominated in the second half, with goals from Deepjay Sharma in the 66th minute and Choden Lepcha in the 76th sealing a convincing win.
In another match, after a scoreless first half, Pravesh Kumar broke the stalemate in the 69th minute, securing three points for Uttar Pradesh.