Tripura Triumphs Over Delhi in U20 National Football Championship

Tripura Secures Victory Against Defending Champions

Narainpur (Chhattisgarh) [India], May 14: In an impressive display, Tripura achieved their second consecutive win in Group D of the Swami Vivekananda U20 Men’s National Football Championship 2025-26, defeating the reigning champions Delhi 2-1 on Thursday.

Other matches saw Sikkim, Punjab, and Maharashtra emerge victorious. Tripura's early match at Ground 1 in the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama stunned two-time champions Delhi, as reported by the All India Football Federation.

Khaswarang Jamatia was the star for Tripura, scoring twice—first in the 42nd minute and again in the 68th minute—giving his team a solid lead. Yash Jalal's goal in the 79th minute for Delhi was merely a consolation.

With this win, Tripura now requires just one point from their upcoming Group D match against Sikkim on Saturday to secure a spot in the quarter-finals, while also putting Delhi's hopes for a third consecutive title in jeopardy.

In another Group D encounter, Sikkim triumphed over Himachal Pradesh with a thrilling 3-2 victory at Ground 2 of the RKM Ashrama. Bishan Singh Subba scored the decisive goal in the dying moments of the match, at the 94th minute.

The match was a rollercoaster, starting with Kebin Sherpa giving Sikkim the lead in the 20th minute, followed by Sakshap Thakur equalizing for Himachal Pradesh in the 58th minute. Sikkim regained the lead through Pramashis Rai in the 67th minute, but Himachal Pradesh responded with another equalizer from Nitin Tegta in the 83rd minute.

However, Subba's late goal ensured Sikkim's first win in the tournament, keeping their quarter-final aspirations alive.

Meanwhile, in Group H, Maharashtra secured a 2-0 victory against Goa at Ground 2 of the RKM Ashrama. After a scoreless first half, Maharashtra found the net twice late in the game, with goals from Mahammad Mustafa Faras in the 79th minute and Nirvaan Bhatt in the 89th minute, bringing their points total to six.

Punjab matched Maharashtra's points with a commanding 6-2 win over Assam at Ground 1 of the RKM Ashrama. Sahij Pal was a standout performer, scoring twice within the first five minutes. Although Assam's Biliphang Boro managed to score in the 19th minute, Pal completed his hat-trick by the 37th minute, followed by Saqlane Sajid's goal in the 41st minute.

Assam briefly narrowed the gap with Jitul Taye's goal in the 52nd minute, but Padma Doley's red card in the 82nd minute dashed their hopes. Punjab sealed their victory with two more goals from Pal and Aviraj Singh Kapur in the 83rd and 87th minutes, respectively.

The outcomes in Group H set the stage for a crucial match between Punjab and Maharashtra on Saturday, where the winner will advance to the quarter-finals. Punjab only needs a draw due to their superior goal difference, while Maharashtra must secure a win.