Punjab FC retain AIFF Elite Youth League crown with 3-0 final rout of Zinc Academy
Synopsis
Punjab FC's 10-minute blitz in the second half — three goals in as many minutes — proved too much for Zinc Football Academy in the AIFF Elite Youth League final at Garhshankar. The defending champions' clinical finishing and possession control secured a title defence that underscores their status as an elite youth development pipeline in Indian football.
Key Takeaways
Punjab FC defeated Zinc Football Academy 3-0 in the AIFF Elite Youth League 2025-26 final on 28 April at Garhshankar, Punjab .
Karish Soram opened the scoring in the 69th minute ; Vishal Yadav doubled the lead in the 70th minute ; Thongram Rishikanta Singh sealed it in the 79th minute .
All three goals came within a 10-minute span in the second half after a goalless first 45 minutes.
Punjab FC dominated possession and controlled the tempo throughout, successfully defending their league title.
Punjab FC successfully defended their title in the AIFF Elite Youth League 2025-26 with a commanding 3-0 victory over Zinc Football Academy in the final at the Ramsar Sahib Sports Stadium in Garhshankar, Punjab, on Tuesday, 28 April. The Cubs delivered a devastating 10-minute blitz in the second half, scoring all three goals between the 69th and 79th minutes.
Second-half onslaught decides the contest
After a tightly contested first half that ended goalless, Punjab FC broke the deadlock in the 69th minute when Karish Soram curled a stunning left-footed strike into the top left corner following a foul on captain Vishal Yadav just outside the box. Within 60 seconds, Yadav doubled the advantage after intercepting a misplaced pass and calmly finishing past the advancing goalkeeper. The rout was completed in the 79th minute when Thongram Rishikanta Singh slotted home after receiving a perfectly weighted assist from Moirangthem Sayonba Singh.
Punjab's dominance from start to finish
Punjab FC controlled possession throughout the opening 45 minutes, keeping play largely in the Zinc Academy half. Early chances fell to Vishal and Sameer, but Zinc FA goalkeeper Smarnik Thapa made a series of key saves, including an excellent diving stop to deny Satnam Singh's header from a corner in the 30th minute. The visitors showed resilience on set-pieces but could not convert their limited opportunities, leaving the sides level at the interval.
Zinc Academy's defensive resilience crumbles
Zinc Football Academy maintained defensive discipline for much of the match, frustrating Punjab's attacking ambitions in the first half. However, they could not withstand the intensity of the second-half assault. A critical error — the slipped defender whose wayward pass led to Yadav's second goal — exposed their vulnerability when it mattered most. Despite their efforts, they were unable to register a shot on target that troubled Punjab goalkeeper Viswajeet.
Title defence completed on home soil
The victory marks Punjab FC's successful title defence in front of their home supporters at Garhshankar, near Hoshiarpur. The Cubs' ability to convert chances in quick succession — a hallmark of elite youth football — proved decisive. With this triumph, Punjab FC has now won back-to-back AIFF Elite Youth League titles, cementing their status as one of India's leading youth development programmes.
Point of View
This final underscores a growing divide between tier-one academies with infrastructure and coaching depth and those still climbing the pyramid. Punjab's back-to-back titles suggest a sustainable pipeline, but replicating this success across the country remains the real challenge.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the AIFF Elite Youth League 2025-26 final?
Punjab FC defeated Zinc Football Academy 3-0 on 28 April at the Ramsar Sahib Sports Stadium in Garhshankar, Punjab. All three goals came in the second half within a 10-minute span.
Who scored the goals in the final?
Karish Soram scored in the 69th minute with a left-footed curler. Vishal Yadav doubled the lead in the 70th minute, and Thongram Rishikanta Singh sealed the victory in the 79th minute.
How did the first half of the match unfold?
The first half was tightly contested and ended 0-0. Punjab FC dominated possession and created early chances through Vishal and Sameer, but Zinc FA goalkeeper Smarnik Thapa made key saves, including a diving stop to deny Satnam Singh's header from a corner in the 30th minute.
Is this Punjab FC's first AIFF Elite Youth League title?
No, this is Punjab FC's second consecutive AIFF Elite Youth League title. The victory marks a successful title defence, cementing their status as one of India's leading youth development programmes.
Where was the final held?
The final was held at the Ramsar Sahib Sports Stadium in Garhshankar, near Hoshiarpur in Punjab, on 28 April 2025-26 season.
