acked by a cheering crowd of over 500 spectators, host team Nagaland delivered a commanding performance to defeat Andaman & Nicobar 7–0 in their second match of the Dr. T. Ao Junior Girls’ National Football Championship at the Football Stadium Chumoukedima on Monday.
Nagaland began on the front foot, earning their first scoring chance within the opening minutes.
In the early minutes, Andaman & Nicobar’s defender was booked for handling the ball near the penalty area, but the resulting free kick was blocked by the defensive wall.
The hosts broke the deadlock in the 10th minute through a well-coordinated move initiated from the half line, finished calmly by Catherine (19). Minutes later, Nagaland earned another free kick just outside the penalty box, but the shot was punched away to safety by the visiting goalkeeper.
Nagaland doubled their advantage in the 19th minute when Sentinaro (7) converted from a corner. The hosts continued to dominate play, narrowly missing another opportunity when a powerful attempt sailed over the crossbar.
Nagaland later made it 3–0 in the 24th minute with Catherine (19) completing her brace. Before the break, captain Zemloi (10) added to the tally, converting a penalty to give Nagaland a strong 4–0 lead at halftime.
The hosts maintained their intensity after the restart in the second half, pressing high and keeping Andaman & Nicobar deep in their own half.
Nagaland unleashed multiple shots on target and further extended their lead with three more goals in the second half, while conceding none.
With the final whistle, Nagaland sealed an emphatic 7–0 victory, with 76% ball possession.
Punjab edge past U’khand in late thriller
In a gripping encounter of the Dr. T. Ao Junior Girls’ National Football Championship, Punjab staged a strong comeback to defeat Uttarakhand 2–1 in a dramatic late winner.
Punjab began the match with high intensity, registering the first shot on target in the opening minutes, though it went straight into the keeper’s gloves.
A major chance came in the 13th minute when a precise cross from the left flank found their striker, who flicked it to a teammate, only for the shot to be saved.
Despite Punjab’s dominance, it was Uttarakhand who drew first goal. Kushi Pal (10) netted the opener in the 24th minute, giving her side a 1–0 lead.
Punjab returned from the break with renewed determination, and nearly equalised within minutes when a through ball from the halfway line connected with their forward, but a heavy first touch allowed the Uttarakhand keeper to rush out and clear the danger.
Punjab’s relentless pressure finally earned reward in the 67th minute when they were awarded a penalty. It’s caption, Harmeen (7) stepped up and converted calmly to level the score. The decision however sparked protests from the Uttarakhand bench, leading to a yellow card for their manager.
Vying for the winner, Punjab came close again in the 72nd minute when Mariam (10) made a powerful run into the box, but the keeper thwarted her attempt with a timely charge.
As the match approached full time, Punjab’s captain Harmeen struck a stunning long-range effort in the 90th minute to put her team 2–1 ahead.
Uttarakhand pushed hard during the five minutes of added time but failed to find an equaliser, sealing Punjab’s well-earned victory.
Tuesday’s Matches
Madhya Pradesh versus Maharashtra – 2:30 PM
Mizoram versus Himachal Pradesh
6:30 PM