West Bengal, Manipur advance to U20 Nationals quarters with contrasting results
Synopsis
West Bengal and Manipur both punched their quarter-final tickets at India's premier U20 football championship, but via contrasting routes. West Bengal's 2-2 comeback draw edged Odisha in a tense Group E finale, while Manipur's flawless campaign — capped by a 5-1 rout of hosts Chhattisgarh — marks them as early tournament favourites heading into the knockout stage.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal drew 2-2 with Odisha to secure quarter-final qualification from Group E with four points .
Manipur defeated Chhattisgarh 5-1 to finish Group B unbeaten with three wins from three matches.
Salam Swamichandra Meitei scored a hat-trick for Manipur ; Thounaojam Robertson Singh added two goals.
Nagaland thrashed Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu 8-1 in a dead-rubber match.
Quarter-final draw expected soon with eight teams now confirmed in the knockout stage.
West Bengal and Manipur secured quarter-final berths at the Swami Vivekananda U20 Men's National Football Championship on 6 May at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh. West Bengal drew 2-2 with Odisha to top Group E, while Manipur delivered a dominant 5-1 victory over hosts Chhattisgarh to finish Group B unbeaten.
West Bengal's comeback secures passage
Odisha took the lead through Shankha Shekhar Hembram in the 28th minute on Ground 2, needing a win to progress. West Bengal turned the match around in the second half with goals from Sahil Kar (60th) and Tanbir Dey (65th). Although Barial Tudu pulled one back for Odisha in the 73rd minute, the 2-2 draw confirmed West Bengal's progression. West Bengal finished atop Group E with four points from two matches, ahead of Karnataka (three points) and Odisha (one point).
Manipur's perfect campaign continues
Manipur maintained their unbeaten record with a commanding 5-1 victory over Chhattisgarh on Ground 1. Salam Swamichandra Meitei scored a hat-trick, while Thounaojam Robertson Singh netted twice. Indrajit Roy converted a second-half penalty for Chhattisgarh's sole goal. Manipur finished Group B with three wins from three matches, becoming the championship's only perfect-record qualifier so far.
Nagaland's goalfest ends group stage
In the day's other encounter, Nagaland routed a 10-man Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu 8-1 on Ground 1. Although both sides' knockout hopes were already eliminated, Nagaland's emphatic win included goals from Vinato Achumi, Nokwang Konyak (twice), Lunmingou Singsit, Viselle Vasa (twice), and an own goal by Piyush Govinda Kokate. Pushpitra Thakur scored Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu's consolation in stoppage time.
Group standings finalized
Chhattisgarh and Nagaland both finished Group B with four points each, but Manipur's superior goal difference secured their top spot. Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu were eliminated without a win. The quarter-final draw is expected within days, with eight teams now confirmed in the knockout stage.
Point of View
Zero losses — sets them up as the tournament's early powerhouse, though group-stage dominance rarely translates to knockout success in youth football. West Bengal's draw-and-advance scenario hints at a tighter, more competitive Group E, where Odisha's failure to convert their lead into a win may haunt them. The real story emerges in the quarter-finals, where the depth of India's youth talent will be on full display.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did West Bengal qualify for the U20 Nationals quarter-finals?
West Bengal drew 2-2 with Odisha on 6 May, finishing Group E atop with four points from two matches. Goals from Sahil Kar and Tanbir Dey in the second half cancelled out Odisha's early lead, securing their passage.
What was Manipur's record in the group stage?
Manipur finished Group B unbeaten with three wins from three matches. Their 5-1 victory over Chhattisgarh, featuring a hat-trick from Salam Swamichandra Meitei, capped a perfect campaign.
Why did Odisha not qualify despite drawing with West Bengal?
Odisha finished Group E with only one point from two matches, behind West Bengal (four points) and Karnataka (three points). The draw was not enough given their earlier loss, leaving them in third place.
Who were the other quarter-finalists confirmed on 6 May?
West Bengal and Manipur were confirmed on 6 May. The other quarter-finalists from earlier group stages were not specified in the results, but eight teams in total have now qualified for the knockout stage.
