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A 90th minute strike from Manglenthang Kipgen saw RoundGlass Punjab FC crowned champions of the U-18 JSW Youth Cup at the JSW Township with a 2-1 win over Reliance Foundation Young Champs in the final. Earlier, Supratim Das’ first-half header had given RFYC the lead, only for Avaneesh Kamath’s own goal (78′) and Kipgen’s free-kick (90′) to inspire a comeback for the side from Punjab.
The Reliance Foundation Young Champs were in full throttle in the first half, creating the first chance of the game straight from kick-off, with a cross coming in for Rashid CK. The striker’s first-time effort went over the crossbar. Reliance Foundation Young Champs continued to pile the pressure by putting in dangerous balls into the 18 yard-box from set-pieces and open play.
Reliance Foundation Young Champs found the opener past the half-hour mark when Supratim found himself at the end of a cross in the box, leaping highest to nod home from close range. RoundGlass Punjab responded immediately after Konsam Singh’s shot deflected off a Reliance defender and rattled the crossbar. The Reliance Foundation Young Champs held their composure and kept the lead into the break.
Konsam Singh was in the thick of the action once again in the opening stages of the second half, attempting an acrobatic shot which found the side netting on 50 minutes. RoundGlass Punjab FC pushed for the equalizer, which finally came when Tekchem Abhishek Singh’s cross was put into the back of his own net by Reliance Foundation Young Champs defender Avaneesh, whose attempted clearance was wayward.
With the game heading into injury time, RoundGlass Punjab FC won a free-kick just outside the 18-yard-box for an infringement. Kipgen, whose movements had caused problems all evening for the Reliance Foundation Young Champs, smacked a shot goalward that had too much on it and was fumbled by Malhar Mohol in the Reliance Foundation Young Champs’ goal, spilling it over the line to give the hosts the lead.
The referee’s final whistle saw RoundGlass Punjab FC crowned champions of the inaugural edition of the U-18 JSW Youth Cup. Earlier, a strike from Lalthangliana had handed Bengaluru FC a 1-0 win in the third-place match, against Dempo SC at the same venue.
