Junior Boys’ NFC Tier I Manipur into final with 7-6 win on penalties against Delhi

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 28 : Manipur beat Delhi 7-6 on penalties to make it to the final of the Junior Boys’ National Football Championship for Dr BC Roy Trophy 2025-26 at GNDU Sports Complex in Amritsar this morning.
State lads who topped Group C with three straight wins rallied from two goals down to draw level thanks to Yumnam Sonamani’s brace and the deadlock remained unbroken till the extra time. Manipur however came out 7-6 winners despite Sonamani’s penalty getting saved and eventually reached the final.
Delhi who finished Group A toppers in the league round dominated earlier proceedings and Manipur kept soaking up the pressure until Kapoujen Kamei made a beautiful cross from the right flank into the box to Lalvohbika who made no mistake in tapping home the ball past the Manipur custodian.
Manipur further slumped five minutes later as Sheikh Faizan Hanief of Delhi made the most of a defensive lapse from Alex Oinam to double the advantage.
Delhi kept pressing as the State boys struggled to break through rivals’ defence set up. As the game inches closer of towards the break, the game got further intense and off a fortuitous circumstance Ngayungmi Kashung set up a fine past around the box to Yumnam Sonamani dodged past Delhi’s Leishangthem Donaroy before finishing off with a low shot.
After the restart, both sides made their best efforts to add to their tally but the goal remained elusive until Yumnam Sonamani capitalised on a deflected shot to slot home the equaliser.
It was an end to end affair yet again with the game once  again open to both the teams but the two sides remained on level terms till the end of the regulation time and 30 minute extra time stretching the game to the penalty shoot-out.
In the shoot-out, Manipur did not have a good start as the first shot by Yumnam Sonamani was parried away by Delhi custodian Md Haris Dar.
Substitute Sagolshem Yoyo, Meisnam Jojo, Oinam Alex and Kh Sultan however kept the competition alive by converting their chances while Delhi, whose Gaurav Kumar, Abhyuday Singh, Kartikay Kashyap Chugh and Ningthoujam Mukundo gave a fine start, slumped in the fifth take with Kamei Jenthuipou Kabui denying Md Haris Dar to make it 4-4 after 5 shots apiece.
Substitutes Mayanglambam Albert, Lourembam Naocha, and Khomdram Denish however made no mistake in converting their chances and eventually helped Manipur emerge 7-6 winners as Kamei Jenthuipou Kabui denied Delhi’s Kapoujean Kamei in the 8th take after Anmol Rahul and Lalvohbika found the target.
Manipur will play West Bengal in the final on July 30.
Bengal reached the final this evening with a 3-2 thrilling victory over Mizoram. Rintu Malik starred in the match scoring all three goals alone (15’, 49’,67’) for the Group A league winners as Joel Lalremruata (26') and Enok Lalchelzing (67’) managed a goal apiece for Mizoram who reached the semi-final as Group D winners.