Swami Vivekanand U20 Men's NFC: Sports Authority of India enter quarterfinals

IANS April 22, 2025 245 views

The Swami Vivekananda U20 Men's National Football Championship saw Sports Authority of India secure their quarterfinal spot with a strategic goalless draw against Goa. In a parallel match, Assam convincingly defeated Odisha 2-1, showcasing impressive attacking prowess. The tournament continues to highlight emerging football talent from different Indian states. Group G standings reflect SAI's dominant performance with seven points, setting the stage for exciting quarterfinal matchups.

"A well-contested match with resolute defense" - Match Analyst
Narainpur, April 22: Sports Authority of India (SAI) moved into the quarterfinals of the Swami Vivekananda U20 Men's National Football Championship (NFC) from Group G after they played out a goalless draw against Goa at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground on Tuesday. In the other match of Group G, Assam beat Odisha 2-1.

Key Points

1

SAI finished Group G with seven points

2

Goa second with five points

3

Assam defeats Odisha 2-1 in crucial match

4

Goalkeeper Reihan Gomes key in Goa's defensive performance

SAI finished the Group G campaign with seven points from three matches and will meet the winners of Group H in the quarterfinals on Friday (April 25, 2025). Goa came second in the group with five points, followed by Assam (three points) and Odisha (one point).

In a well-contested match, SAI, who needed a draw to make the last eight, enjoyed the upper hand in attacks, but could not break a resolute Goa defence, especially the goalkeeper Reihan Gomes. The Goa custodian thwarted the SAI attackers with a few fine saves.

Goa needed a win to qualify, but they failed to create enough chances in the SAI goalmouth despite desperate attempts in the second half.

Assam took a firm grip over the match in the first half, scoring twice through Ashish Chetry. The striker opened the scoring in the 13th minute when he grabbed the ball inside the box to find the target with a low shot. His second goal in the 38th minute was a perfect right-footer that packed into the net.

Odisha pulled one back in the 79th minute when Assam defender Fulung Brahma accidentally put the ball in his own net while trying to head it out of danger from inside the box.

Earlier on Sunday, the Sports Authority of India defeated Odisha 3-0 on the second matchday of Group G in the Swami Vivekananda U20 Men's National Football Championship. In the other match, Goa beat Assam 2-1. SAI are now placed at the top in Group G with six points, followed by Goa with four points and Odisha with one, while Assam are yet to grab any. Only the group winners will book their place in the quarter-final.

Wednesday's fixtures (Group H):

7:30 am — West Bengal vs Madhya Pradesh

4:15 pm – Nagaland vs Haryana

The matches will be streamed live on the Indian Football YouTube Channel.

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
What a performance by Reihan Gomes! That Goa keeper was on fire 🔥 SAI had so many chances but couldn't get past him. Quarterfinals here we come!
P
Priya M.
Disappointed Goa couldn't make it through but they fought hard. The defense was solid but they really needed more attacking options in that second half.
A
Arjun S.
Ashish Chetry with a brace for Assam! That second goal sounds like an absolute banger. Excited to see how SAI performs in the quarters 🤞
S
Sneha P.
The streaming quality on Indian Football YouTube has improved so much this season! Makes it so easy to follow our young talents from anywhere 🇮🇳⚽
V
Vikram J.
While the article is informative, I wish there was more analysis about SAI's strategy. They dominated possession but couldn't convert - what needs to change before quarters?
T
Tanya R.
Poor Fulung Brahma... own goals happen to the best of us. Assam still got the win though! Looking forward to tomorrow's matches 🏆

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Your email won't be published


Disclaimer: Comments here reflect the author's views alone. Insulting or using offensive language against individuals, communities, religion, or the nation is illegal.

Tags:
Swami Vivekananda U20 Men's NFC Sports Authority of India Indian Football U20 Football Championship Goa Football Assam Football
You May Like!