NAHARLAGUN, Dec 8: Arunachal Pradesh grounded Tamil Nadu 9-1 in a lopsided Pool A match and became the first team to qualify for the semifinals of the Hero National Sub-Junior National Football Championship (NFC) here on Saturday.
Pravin Dorjee, who scored four goals in the match, struck in the third minute to open the floodgate. Kenjey Lepcha doubled the score in the sixth minute.
Arunachal were leading Tamil Nadu 2-0 at halftime.
After the break, the hosts took full control of the match and pumped in seven goals at regular intervals, in the 49th, 66th, 71st, 73rd, 75th, 79th and 82nd minutes.
Heri Rambo netted the third goal in the 49th minute, before Pravin scored his second and the team’s fourth goal in the 66th minute.
Lepcha netted his second goal in the 71st minute, before Swarneem scored the Arunachal’s sixth goal in the 73rd minute.
Provin netted his third and fourth goals in the 75th and 79th minutes.
Gyamar Nikum hit the final nail in the coffin in the 82nd minute.
Tamil Nadu scored the consolation goal through Kishore RA in the 70th minute.
The second match, which was played between Odisha and Punjab, ended in a 1-1 draw.
Punjab were leading the match with a first-half goal scored by Seilenthang Lotjem, which was equalized by Punjab in the second half through a well-taken penalty kick.
On Sunday, Mizoram will take on Telangana at 2 pm. The match between Jharkhand and Haryana will be played under floodlights from 6 pm.
