Extra-time winner sends Punjab into Swami Vivekananda U20 Men's NFC semi-finals
Narainpur, May 19
Punjab booked their place in the semi-finals of the Swami Vivekananda U20 Men's National Football Championship after edging Tripura 2-1 in a thrilling quarter-final at the RK Ashram Ground 1.
Sahij Pal emerged as the hero for Punjab with a dramatic extra-time winner in a closely-fought encounter between two group winners. Punjab made a bright start and went ahead in the 14th minute when Pal finished clinically to give his side the early advantage.
Tripura, however, refused to back down and gradually grew into the contest. Their persistence paid off in the 66th minute as substitute Arma Jamatia found the equaliser to bring his side back into the game and force extra-time.
With both teams pushing hard for a decisive breakthrough, Pal struck in the first few minutes of extra-time to send Punjab into the last four.
Earlier, Punjab matched Maharashtra's points tally with an emphatic 6-2 win over Assam on Ground 1 at the RKM Ashrama.
They made a roaring start, with Sahij Pal scoring twice in the first five minutes. Although Biliphang Boro had halved the deficit for Assam in the 19th minute, Pal struck again to complete his hat-trick in the 37th minute before Saqlane Sajid scored Punjab's fourth in the 41st.
Assam got a glimmer of hope when Jitul Taye made it 4-2 in the 52nd minute. However, Padma Doley's red card in the 82nd minute dashed those hopes, and Punjab rounded off a big win with two more goals in the 83rd minute via Pal again and Aviraj Singh Kapur in the 87th.
Punjab only need a draw thanks to their superior goal difference, while Maharashtra would require three points.
Tripura stunned two-time champions Delhi in the early kick-off on Ground 1 at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama on Thursday.
Khaswrang Jamatia scored on either side of half-time in the 42nd and 68th minutes to put the North-eastern side two goals ahead. That meant Yash Jalal's 79th-minute strike was a mere consolation.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Tripura ne bhi bahut accha khela. Unki team ne Delhi ko haraya, phir Punjab se extra time tak kheech liya. North-east ke teams ka level badh raha hai, yeh bahut positive signal hai Indian football ke liye. Bas aur support chahiye.
Punjab vs Assam match mein toh goal-fest ho gaya! 6-2 ka scoreline, but Assam ne haar nahi maani. Jitul Taye ne goal karke wapas laane ki koshish ki, lekin red card ne unki team ki kamar tod di. Discipline bhi important hai yaar.
Ek baat toh clear hai - Punjab ke forwards fire me hain. Sahij Pal ka hat-trick plus extra time winner? Is ladke ka future bright hai. Bas AIFF ko properly groom karna hoga, talent toh hai. Semifinals mein aur dhamaka dekhte hain! 🔥
Great to see the U20 tournament getting this competitive. Tripura's resilience was impressive - coming back from a goal down and pushing Punjab to extra time shows the gap is closing. Credit to Punjab for finding a way to win though. Sahij Pal is a name to watch for sure.
Honestly, Maine socha nahi tha Tripura itna door tak aayegi. Do baar ke champions Delhi ko harana koi mazak nahi hai. Unki team mein discipline aur confidence dono dikh raha hai. Aur Punjab ke Sahij Pal ne toh hat-trick bhi maara, phir extra time mein winner? Laajwaab
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.