How Did Juggernaut FC Start Strong in the AIFF Futsal Club Championship?

Rudrapur, Aug 3 (NationPress) Juggernaut FC and Triumph FC faced different fates in their Group A matchups as the inaugural day of the fourth edition of the AIFF Futsal Club Championship 2024-25 unfolded with excitement and numerous goals at the Shri Manoj Sarkar Stadium – Shivalik Hall in Rudrapur on Sunday.

Gujarat’s Juggernaut FC made a remarkable comeback to the tournament with a dominating 8-2 victory over the reigning champions Minerva Academy FC, while newcomers Triumph FC and Real Lona FC fought to a 1-1 draw.

For Juggernaut FC, Shibu Sunny was the star of the match, scoring a hat-trick, and Shivam Yadav added two goals, helping them secure three points and the top spot in their group. Meanwhile, Minerva will need to regroup quickly, sitting at the bottom of the group alongside Triumph and Real Lona, who each earned a point.

Sunny Shines Bright

Returning after a one-season break and eager to redeem themselves after an early exit in 2022-23, Juggernaut FC stunned Minerva Academy with an explosive start, with Shibu Sunny scoring within the very first minute.

Minerva equalized briefly in the 10th minute thanks to James Lalnunchhana, but their defense fell apart soon after. Sunny scored again in the 15th minute, and Jenishsinh Rana added a third goal in the 18th minute, leaving Juggernaut FC firmly in control at halftime.

The second half saw a major shift as Shivam Yadav scored a fourth goal in the 23rd minute, followed by Aman Shah extending the lead just three minutes later. Although PC Lalruatzela managed to pull one back for Minerva in the 32nd minute, Sunny swiftly completed his hat-trick in the 34th minute. Yadav added his second goal in the 37th minute, and substitute Rudra Chhetri capped the match with a final goal in the 40th minute, sealing an impressive 8-2 victory.

Debut Draw

The day’s first match featured Triumph FC and Real Lona FC making their competitive debuts. As anticipated, nerves were palpable, leading to a cautious playing style focused on defense during the early minutes. The first half concluded without any goals as neither team was able to create clear chances.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 30th minute when Mohammad Hussain from Real Lona found an opening and scored, marking his club’s inaugural goal in the championship. Their celebration was short-lived, however, as just two minutes later, Vardhan Thakur leveled the score for Triumph FC with an opportunistic strike. Despite late attempts from both sides, the score remained at 1-1, resulting in a shared point in what turned out to be a gritty opener.

IANS

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