Playing against Players more than 2 to 3 year older than them, the young colts from AIFF’s Under-14 Goa Regional Academy put up a spirited display to edge past Under-17 Team of Betalbatim SC 5-1 in a friendly match at the Chowgule Sports Complex in Goa.

The boys, preparing for the 2017 Under-17 FIFA World Cup have been based at the Academy since February 2013.

Betalbatim SC, using their physical prowess surged into the lead when Mathew scored in the 8th minute. However, the AIFF Academy boys fought back and equalised in the 17th minute. An overlapping Academy Amarjeet Mishra earned a corner and Striker Shubham Sarangi made no mistake to slot it home off Hrishi Dhath’s curling corner. Shubham doubled his tally ten minutes later – his left footer entering the left corner net after being fed by midfielder Shahjahan.

Post interval, it was one-way traffic as the AIFF boys dominated proceedings right from the restart. Following a short corner, midfielder Shahjahan curled in a cross only for an onrushing Central Defender Jitender Singh to head it home in the 77th minute.

The AIFF boys were further awarded a penalty in the 85th minute after Abuthaheer, who came in for Shubham, was brought down inside the box by a rival defender. Abuthaheer gleefully converted from the spot.

Moments before the final whistle, Shahjahan who had played assist on two previous occasion found his name on the scoresheet when he tapped in on a low cross from Ribhav Sardesai.

The AIFF Academy ‘B’ Team also played another practice match against Betalbatim SC’s Under-15 Team and won 3-0. The match witnessed Striker Boris Singh and Amartya Basu, both having fully recovered from ACL surgeries, make an impression in the match. In fact, Boris even tapped in the first goal from an Aryan pass.

(Report & Picture courtesy AIFF Media)