Shillong, Jan 30: Meghalaya recorded a fantastic 6-0 victory over Odisha on the third day of the Junior National Football Championship for the Dr BC Roy Trophy to move to the top of Group C at Third Ground here today.
Wadajied Kynsai Ryngkhlem scored the first hat-trick of the competition and fastest goal so far today for Meghalaya. Henryford Nongneng, Gladdy Kharbuli and Ioannis Suchen were the other home side players to get their names on the scorescheet.
After not being able to score in 90 minutes versus Haryana in their opener on Tuesday, Meghalaya wasted no time today before Ryngkhlem scored after a set-piece in the very first minute.
That was Meghalaya’s only goal of the first half as Odisha resisted well, but they could not prevent the hosts from going up 2-0 early in the second 45 minutes through Ryngkhlem again (48′). Nongneng then powerfully drove the ball into the net in the 69th minute before captain Kharbuli converted a spot kick after a foul on Tremiki Lamurong in the 81st.
Suchen then made it five for Meghalaya with a volleyed shot off a cross five minutes later before Ryngkhlem pulled off a solo effort to claim his hat-trick in the 88th.
Earlier Haryana came through as 2-0 victors over Sports Authority of India. Nadeem (39′) and Vikas (44′) scored two first half goals for Haryana to move them to four points and leaving SAI on three. Meghalaya, also on four points, are at the top of Group C on goal difference, leading +6 to Haryana’s +2.
In Group A Goa squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Uttar Pradesh at the JN Stadium. Velroy Cardozo (19′) and Macbon Valen Fernandes (48′) put Goa into a good position but UP fought back via Himanshurai (50′ penalty) and Mohammad Taushif (54′) to split points. UP now have four points, while Goa are on two.
Later Mizoram took a two-goal lead in under 15 minutes through FC Pahnai (8′) and Lalpekhlua Jongte (14′), but Delhi lifted their game in the second half and gave the defending champions a run for their money, especially after they clawed a goal back in the 75th via a penalty by Fahad Temuri, but Mizoram held on for their first win and also now have four points.
Group B (Third Ground) – Kerala vs Jharkhand (9:30AM); Manipur vs Punjab (2PM)
Group D (JN Stadium) – Jammu & Kashmir vs Karnataka (9:30AM); Chhattisgarh vs West Bengal (2PM)
(Meghalaya Football Association photo. Meghalaya are in green, Odisha in yellow/blue)
