The All India Football Federation’s U-16 Kalyani Regional Academy Boys built on their gritty display against East Bengal to steamroll Nabarun Sangha, Bhadreswar 6-1 in another friendly match at the Kalyani Stadium on Saturday.

A first-half brace from Bodo Baoringdao and goals from Edmund Lalrindika, Nijwm Muchahary and Deependra Singh Negi, coupled with an own goal set the tone of the match all in favour of the Academy Boys.

It was goals galore in the first period itself and the floodgates opened in the 22nd minute when Edmund ran 20 yards to collect a cross-shot from Anirudh Thapa and slam it past rival keeper.

Four minutes later Bodo doubled the tally with a fine close range strike, only to improve on his and the team’s showing in the 41st minute with a wonderful goal from 20 yards.

Sandwiched in between were goals from Nijwm and one which the immensely pressurized opponents put through their own net after failing to avert the danger from a teasing Surya Tirkey cross inside the box.

It was going to be about damage limitation from here on for the visitors but nothing of that sort was cooking as the marauding boys in blue turned in another with Negi completing the rout with an easy tap in.

These Academy Boys who form the core of the India U-16 national team played in two tournaments in the Netherlands, namely the 19th International RKTVC BVO Tournament for U-16 Boys where they beat FC Twente 1-0 in the second group match, and prior to that the International Youth Tournament (HSV Odin 59’) in Heemskerk in which they reached the cross finals.

In between they lost by only a goal to hallowed German outfit FC Schalke 04 U-16 counterparts in a friendly match, earning praise from their youth coach Eren Yilmaz who was ‘pleasantly surprised’ by the display.

(Report & Picture courtesy AIFF Media)