The Chennaiyin FC U-15 team beat Mahogany FC 1-0 in the final of the Don Bosco Youth Centre (DBYC) Father Mohanraj Memorial U-16 Tournament held at the DBYC Broadway school ground yesterday. N. Surya’s well-taken goal midway through the first half was enough to hand the CFC U-15s the Fr. Mohanraj Memorial trophy.

The CFC boys, with majority of them hailing from Chennai district, entered the final on the back of a walkover from Don Bosco Egmore in the semis and a 5-1 drubbing of St. Patrick’s HS in the quarters. The latter game saw striker K. Surya bag a hat-trick and Sri Arabindh and Kishore score a goal apiece.

The final against Mahogany FC began on a cagey note, with both sides finding it difficult to control proceedings. CFC however grew into the game as the duo of K. Surya and Jaya Ruban upfront proved a constant threat for the Mahogany defence. And from one such foray into the opposition half, the ball broke to N. Surya at the edge of the box. The boy from Karaikudi district unleashed a pinpoint strike that nestled into the bottom corner, beyond the desperate reach of the Mahogany goalkeeper.

Mahogany tried to fight back in the second half with both sides carving out some decent half chances. CFC however held on for a narrow 1-0 win that saw them lift the trophy in front of scores of spectators on a warm Sunday evening.

Chennaiyin FC U-15 Squad

Goalkeepers
R. Aron, K. Mohan Raj

Defenders
Arvind Karthikeyan, Kuganeshwaran, Sri Arabindh, Valampuri Pandian S., Sai Krishnan

Midfielders
K. Rahul, Manish Kumar, Jaya Ruban, Deepak Thappa, J. Manoj, Divakar, N. Surya, B. Satish Kumar

Forwards
R.A. Kishore, Mohamed Liyaakath, MD Tharik, K. Surya, Yugan

(Chennaiyin FC)