Shillong: In a captivating Group A encounter at the Swami Vivekananda U-20 Men’s National Football Championship 2025 held in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya displayed resilience and determination to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Kerala. Despite a late surge from their opponents, Meghalaya held their nerve to claim all three points.
The Meghalaya side, under the guidance of Coach Bobby L Nongbet, carried forward the momentum from their opening match win against Rajasthan on April 29th. With just a single alteration to their starting eleven, which saw Ricky Kharkongor step in for Pyrkhatshaphrang Sumer, Meghalaya looked focused and intent on securing another positive result.
The deadlock was broken in the 27th minute when Banlamkupar Rynjah unleashed a powerful left-footed strike from inside the penalty area. The ball evaded a Kerala defender and the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper, nestling into the back of the net to give Meghalaya a crucial lead.
Meghalaya doubled their advantage in the 68th minute, courtesy of an error from the Kerala defense. A misjudged back pass put their goalkeeper, Devanandan, in a difficult position, and his attempted clearance went awry. Deibormame Tongper was quick to capitalize on the mistake, calmly slotting the ball into an empty net.
As the game approached its conclusion, Kerala were awarded a penalty in added time following a foul inside the box. Mohammed Adhnan stepped up and successfully converted the spot kick, offering a glimmer of hope for a late comeback. However, the Meghalaya team stood firm, denying Kerala any further opportunities to equalize and effectively managing possession until the final whistle.
This second consecutive victory propels Meghalaya to a total of 6 points in Group A, placing them in a strong position as the tournament progresses. Their final group stage match is scheduled against Bihar on Monday, where they will aim to continue their impressive run.
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