Shillong: After a patient wait spanning over two weeks since their quarterfinal triumph, Meghalaya are all set to grace the field once more in the Swami Vivekananda U-20 Men’s National Football Championship 2025. Their formidable opponents in today’s semifinal clash will be Mizoram, with the kick-off slated for 3:30 PM. Football aficionados can catch all the live action on the Indian Football YouTube channel.
Meghalaya had previously secured their spot in the semifinals by defeating Karnataka 1-0 in a hard-fought encounter on May 9, held in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh. The staggered nature of the league, with only two groups actively playing at any given time, necessitated this extended hiatus for the Meghalaya squad as they awaited the completion of the remaining group stage fixtures and the final quarterfinal.
Mizoram, on the other hand, booked their semifinal berth just yesterday, emerging victorious in a nail-biting penalty shootout against Punjab, with the scoreline reading 4-2 after extra time had ended in a 2-2 stalemate.
While Meghalaya’s extended rest period could prove to be a significant advantage, Mizoram arrive at this crucial juncture with an undeniable surge of momentum. This sets the stage for an intriguing battle where both teams will have unique challenges to overcome. The first semifinal, featuring Delhi and the Sports Authority of India, is scheduled for 7:30 AM tomorrow.
Under the astute guidance of coach Bobby L Nongbet, Meghalaya’s journey to the quarterfinals was nothing short of dominant. They swept aside all their Group A opponents, securing victories against Rajasthan (4-0), Kerala (2-1), and Bihar (7-0). Their impressive win against Karnataka in the quarterfinal now extends their winning streak to four matches. In this spectacular run, Meghalaya have netted a remarkable 14 goals while conceding a solitary one, showcasing their robust offensive and defensive prowess. This year’s performance marks a significant improvement from the 2024 tournament, where the team failed to progress beyond the group stage.
Mizoram’s path to the semifinals has been equally impressive. In Group D, they registered commanding wins against Maharashtra (4-0), Himachal Pradesh (8-0), Tripura (11-1), and Jharkhand (3-1), before being pushed to their absolute limit by Punjab in Friday’s quarterfinal.