How Did Punjab Secure Their QF Spot with a Massive Win Over Ladakh in the Swami Vivekananda Men’s U20 NFC?

Synopsis
Punjab's stunning 8-1 victory over Ladakh not only secured their quarter-final spot in the Swami Vivekananda Men’s U20 NFC but also showcased their incredible talent and teamwork. Meanwhile, Manipur's strong performance against Sikkim added to the day's excitement. Dive into the thrilling details of this remarkable match!
Key Takeaways
- Punjab's dominant performance secured a spot in the quarter-finals.
- Arun Kumar Chandla
- Manipur also performed well, winning against Sikkim.
- Punjab finished top of Group C with nine points.
- Strong teamwork and skill were evident from Punjab's players.
Narainpur, May 19 (NationPress) Punjab has successfully qualified for the quarter-finals of the Swami Vivekananda Men’s U20 NFC after a commanding victory over Ladakh, finishing the match at 8-1 during their Group C encounter held at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground on Monday. In another match, Manipur triumphed over Sikkim with a score of 6-1.
In need of three points to assure themselves of the top position and a spot in the quarter-finals, Punjab delivered a striking performance against Ladakh, who initially took the lead, albeit momentarily, at the start of the game. By halftime, Punjab was ahead 3-1.
Imran Ali struck first for Ladakh in the eighth minute, but this lead was short-lived as Punjab’s Gaurav Singh equalized just a minute later with a powerful rebound shot. In the 25th minute, Harmandeep Singh skillfully flicked the ball over the Ladakh goalkeeper, giving Punjab a significant advantage. Gurmeet Singh further extended the lead in the 43rd minute, skillfully bypassing the keeper to score.
With their confidence soaring, Punjab continued to assert their dominance in the second half. Arun Kumar Chandla scored twice in quick succession in the 68th and 69th minutes, followed by Damandeep Kumar who added the sixth goal in the 79th minute. Chandla completed his hat-trick in the 85th minute, and Arshvir Singh sealed the deal with a goal in injury time (90+2’).
Consequently, Punjab topped Group C with nine points. Although Manipur also secured nine points, Punjab edged them out based on a superior head-to-head record after defeating them 1-0 earlier.
In the day's other match, Manipur dominated Sikkim with a 6-1 victory, although their qualification was already determined before the match began. They led 2-0 at the break.
Konthoujam Lemba Singh scored a hat-trick (8’, 10’, 74’) along with Md Abash, who also secured a hat-trick (72’ p, 85’, 90+4’). Ragpay Lepcha netted the only goal for Sikkim with a penalty conversion in the 48th minute.