Sports: Meghalaya’s inspiring run in the Swami Vivekananda U-20 Men’s National Football Championship 2025 came to a disappointing halt on May 25, as they suffered a 4-0 defeat to a dominant Mizoram in the second semifinal held in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh.
Heading into the clash, both teams had maintained perfect records in the tournament. However, Meghalaya’s extended break—having last played on May 9—appeared to blunt their edge, while Mizoram, fresh off a quarterfinal win against Punjab just a day earlier, rode in with momentum and sharpness.
Despite fielding a full-strength squad, Meghalaya, under the guidance of coach Bobby L Nongbet, struggled to match Mizoram’s pace and precision. Mizoram’s Mesak C Lalrinngheta led the assault with a brace in the 28th and 76th minutes, while Dantes K Lalhriatpuia (83’) and F Vanlalchhanchhuaha (90’+2) sealed the victory in emphatic fashion.
While the semifinal exit was a bitter pill, Meghalaya can take heart from a vastly improved campaign compared to last year, when they failed to clear the group stage. In the 2025 edition, they stormed through the group stage with wins over Rajasthan (4-0), Kerala (2-1), and Bihar (7-0), and edged past Karnataka 1-0 in a hard-fought quarterfinal.
With their semifinal win, Mizoram will now face Delhi in the final. Delhi had earlier booked their spot with a commanding 4-0 win over the Sports Authority of India in the first semifinal.
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