Manipur kept their winning streak alive, thrashing Haryana by 8-0 goals, to make it to the last four of the Hero Sub-Junior Boys National Football Championship 2023-24 being held at Berhampur in West Bengal.
Winning all their three games, Manipur proceeded to the semi-final from Group B, displaying great understanding of the game over Goa, West Bengal and Haryana in the group.
The semi-final matches are slated on September 10 with Manipur taking on the winner of Group D as the last league matches of the latter are to be played on Friday.
As Manipur continued their winning performances, they should have gained an early lead but forward Md. Wajit was unlucky to miss a penalty in the 3rd minute as Haryana keeper Abeer Kumar made a diving save.
However, Manipur made amends with defender Tomsana Yumnam, running on the right, banged home the opening goal in the 10th minute after collecting a goalmouth pass from Md. Wajit for the lead.
Dominating the move, Md. Wajit continued his tirade and consolidated the score with two quick goals in the 22nd and 25th minutes. Midfielder Md. Istak Khan also made some good runs in the flanks but lacked anticipation from his teammates on time.
Keeping Haryana keeper Abeer Kumar busy, substitute forward Md. Salfrosh did his part well when he got a pass from Istak Khan to slam home the fourth goal in the 45+1st minute and pounded home another goal from a goalmouth melee in 45+2nd minute to post 5-0 goals.
Pushed back to their own territory, Haryana received further setbacks with midfielder Soibam Drunao playing havoc as he made scoring look easy with two goals in the 57th and 73rd minutes and later defender Hamid Ahmed picked up the winning goal in the 82nd minute for the comfortable victory.
