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Two time defending champions Minerva Punjab FC Under-15s have become the first Indian club in the history of the U-15 Youth League for the Nike Premier Cup to storm into the semifinals for the third straight year in a hunt for their third consecutive title here in Goa.
The Warriors of Punjab kick-started their U-15 Youth League – Zonal Qualifiers with a 8-0 win over United Punjab FC followed by a 1-0 over Shivanand Haryana FC. The colts trashed local rivals Youngsters FC 6-0 and Neighbours Rurka Kalan FC with the same scoreline to proceed to the All India Final Round then to be played in Goa.
The Final Round started with a 1-1 draw against Gokulam Kerala FC as Minervan Ben Johnson gave them the lead in the 32rd minute which was cancelled by GKFC’s Hemand M.M. in the 85th minute. The next match played at the Navelim Ground saw Minerva Punjab FC colts blank MSP Football Academy 3-0 courtesy to Arjun Sharma’s 48th and 73rd minute strikes as Karthik Nayyar too got on the scoresheet in the 66th minute. Followed by a 5-0 victory over local giants Churchill Brothers SC, the Blue colts sealed their Final Round berth with a thumping 5-0 victory over Sports Hostel Orissa, as Ben Johnson broke the deadlock in the very 1st minute as Ajay doubled the lead in the 23rd minute, Bikash Youmnam scored a double followed by Ajit Kumar Meitei to make it 5-0 at the full time whistle.
The Minerva Punjab FC colts blanked Indian Super League side Chennaiyin FC U-15 with a huge 5-0 scoreline with Arjun Sharma, Samson, Isra Khan and Ben Johnson netting twice. Mumbai-based “FC of Mumbaikars” too were defeated by a 4-0 margin at the Utorda Sports Complex to storm into their third consecutive U-15 Youth League semifinal.
Minerva Punjab FC are playing in Goa without regulars Moirangthem Thoiba Singh, Lalchhanhima Sailo, Givson Singh and skipper Vikram Pratap who are currently on an exposure trip to the Middle East with the India U-16 team preparing for the upcoming 2018 AFC U-16 Championship.
U-15 Youth League 2018 Zonal Qualifiers
MPFC 8-0 United Punjab FC
MPFC 1-0 Shivanand Haryana FC
MPFC 6-0 Youngsters FC
MPFC 6-0 Rurka Kalan FC
U-15 Youth League 2018 Final Round – Goa
Gokulam Kerala FC 1-1 MPFC
MSP Football Academy 0-3 MPFC
Churchill Brothers 0-5 MPFC
Sports Hostel, Orissa 5-0 MPFC
Nike Premier Cup – U-15 Youth League 2018 Knockout Round – Goa
Chennaiyin FC 0-5 MPFC
FC of Mumbaikars 0-4 MPFC
Minerva Punjab FC next play The Winners of Group B on Tuesday, February 6 at 3.45pm at the Nagoa Ground, Goa.
