Shillong, May 26: After a run of four consecutive victories, Meghalaya’s campaign in the Swami Vivekananda U-20 Men’s National Football Championship 2025 came to an unpleasant end yesterday when they were comprehensively defeated by Mizoram 4-0.
Speaking after the match from Narainpur, Chhattisgarh, coach Bobby L Nongbet (pictured) cited the sending-off of RT Hanson Pdang as a crucial moment.
Hanson, who went into the book early in the game, launched a flying tackle to stop a Mizoram player and copped a second yellow card in the 64th minute. Although Mizoram were also reduced to 10 men just two minutes later, the pressure was all on Meghalaya, who had gone behind in the first half.
“We were up to it even though we were a goal down but the moment we received the red card everything went against us,” Bobby said. “We had to risk and press forward (to get an equaliser) but then we were caught out with defensive lapses.”
“It’s a hard loss,” the highly successful youth coach added. “At one time we seemed likely to lift the cup but then we lost in the semifinals. But this is football and it happens.”
He gave Mizoram, who have now won five games in a row, their due, saying, “Overall, Mizoram had the better game and were a better team today.”
Mizoram will face Delhi in the final. Delhi had won the inaugural edition of the U-20 NFC last year at the same venue.
(TSR file photo)
