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Tamil Nadu and Bengal have emerged as the two front runners for the top spot in Group E of the Swami Vivekananda U-20 Men’s NFC, after both the sides earned 5-1 victories against Uttarakhand and Punjab, respectively, at the Ramakrishna Ashram Ground, in Narainpur, on Sunday, April 14, 2024.
Bengal and Tamil Nadu had, earlier this week, played out a draw at the same venue, which means that both sides are now on four points apiece, and have the same goal difference (four). the top team from each group will proceed to the quarterfinals.
Tamil Nadu 5-1 Uttarakhand
(TN: Mohamed Safwan 23′, 44′, Lijo Eujin Thatheyus 43′, Rooney Rose 49′, John Paul J 84′; U: Vineet Singh Jangpangi 87′)
Tamil Nadu, in the first match of the day, scored a convincing 5-1 victory against Uttarakhand, to put them in a commanding position in Group E.
Mohamed Safwan scored two goals for Tamil Nadu (23′, 44′), which were split by Substitute Lijo Eujin Thatheyus’ 43rd minute strike. Captain Rooney Rose and substitute John Paul J added two more in the second half (49′ and 84′), to complete the rout. Vineeth Singh Jangpangi scored a consolation goal just minutes before the final whistle.
Punjab 1-5 West Bengal
(P: Krishna 12′; WB: Bipradip Mondal 2, 14, Rahul Naskar 73′, Shibam Munda 85′ p, Sahajid Gazi 90+6′)
Bengal mounted a second-half surge to put them at par with Tamil Nadu in the Group E standings. While the proceedings were quite close at half time, with Bengal leading 2-1, they came three goals late in the second half ensured that they are very much in the race for the top spot.
Bipradip Mondal had a good start for Bengal, netting two goals in the first quarter of an hour (2′, 14′). While Punjab’s Krishna (12′) had equalized briefly, Mondal made sure that the parity only lasted two minutes. Rahul Naskar’s 73rd-minute strike opened the floodgates for Bengal, who added two more, the first through a Shibam Munda penalty (85′), and the second through a Sahajid Gazi injury-time strike.
Bengal and Tamil Nadu are now locked at the top of the table in Group E, and the final matchday of the group, where the former take on Uttarakhand, while the latter face Punjab.
