Delhi brighten their chances to qualify

Custom Search

MAHILPUR, SEPT 23
Delhi recorded their second successive victory by beating Himachal Pradesh by 5-0 in Cluster VII match of the Punjab thrashed Pondicherry by 14-0 in Cluster IV match of the the 31st Sub Junior National Football Championship 2008 for Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy being played here today.
Striker Michael Chongthu stole the show by scoring three goals. Kishlay Sajwan and Supanya Devavrat added one goal to brighten their chance to clear their cluster. Delhi had earlier defeated Gujarat by 1-0 on Sunday last.
Delhi face Bihar in their last cluster fixture on Thursday to decide the winners from their cluster.
In another in the same cluster, Bihar snatched full points after beating Gujarat by 2-1. In the defence-dominated game, the first half failed to produce any goal.
On resumption, the proceedings livened up and Aftab Alam put Bihar ahead with a fine goal in the 58th minute. Gujarat launched counter-attack and neutralised the lead through Neuclus Sellar in the 65th minute. Tied one-all, the teams went all out to snatch the match-winner. It was Aftab Alam who booted home the winner in the 86th minute.
It was Bihar's first victory after losing to Himachal Pradesh in their first outing. Gujarat suffered their second successive defeat.
Uttrakhand got the better of Jharkhand by 2-1 in a well-contested Cluster V encounter to gain full points. Striker Ashish Visht turned in a good performance by scoring in the 15th and 44th minute.
Jharkhand tried to bounce back into the game. Their efforts resulted in reducing the margin by scoring a goal in the 57th minute through Durga Lorhra. As Jammu and Kashmir have withdrawn, Uttrakhand were earlier given walkover. Consequenlty, Uttrakhad have qualified from their cluster to the next round -- Group A quarter-final league.
As Nagaland have cried off from the tournament, Punjab and Puddicherry played against each other twice. On the opening day, hosts Punjab drubbed Pondicherry by 23-0 and yesterday, they mauled Pondicherry by 14-0 to clear their cluster for group B quarter-final league.