MARGAO, MAY 3
Meghalaya, Haryana, Mizoram and Punjab romped into the quarter-final league stage of 18th Under-21 National Football Championship for Dutta Ray Trophy here on Sunday.
Manipur were left to lick the wounds after being beaten by Punjab 2-0 in a Cluster III match at Raia panchayat ground.
After a barren first half, Punjab came out with a plan and executed it well. Ajay Kumar broke the deadlock in the 70th minute when he unleashed a stinging shot which crashed into the net. Maninder Singh sealed the fate of Manipur in the 86th minute with a firm grounder.
At Signals ground, Navelim, in a Cluster VI match, Meghalya rallied to hold Maharashtra to a 1-1 draw. Pranil Mendon put Maharashtra into the lead.
Meghalaya kept on piling pressure on the rival citadel and their efforts paid off in the 51st minute when Eugenson Mawpalang netted the equaliser.
Both teams were tied on same number of points. However, Meghalaya qualified for the quarter-finals on better goal average.
At Curtorim ground, striker Malsawmzuala scored four goals as Mizoram exploited a sloppy defence to trounce Uttar Pradesh 7-0 . T C Lalhuapzauva, C Zothansanga and B Lalchanchhuaha completed the rout by scoring a goal apiece.
In the morning match at Corps of Signals ground, in a Cluster VI match, Pondicherry defeated Himachal Pradesh 3-1. Kurunathi, Sanjay Kumar, Nagarajan were the goal getters for Pondy while Roahan Varda netted for Himachal Pradesh.
