Unique Model Academy, Manipur continued its dream run in the 52nd Subroto Cup football tournament at the Ambedkar Stadium on Friday, clinching the Under-14 boys title with a 2-0 win against NCC Directorate, Odisha in the final.
S. Annaroy and S. Topper were the scorers, with both goals coming in the first half of the game as the Manipur boys played an attacking game right from the start. The two goals came within the first five minutes of the game, and within a minute of each other, as Odisha was put on the backfoot even right from the start.
By the time the NCC boys recovered enough to try and attempt a goal of their own, it was too late. Its off-target strikers sending the ball sailing wide and above the crossbar didn't help NCC's cause either.
Favourite for the title before the game began, NCC had dominated all its matches till the final. However, the attacking start from the Manipuris took them by surprise. Annaroy, receiving the ball on the right, weaved past a couple of defenders to out his team ahead. Odisha, losing possession trying to go for an equaliser on the counter, saw Topper turn over and slot the ball in past a rooted goalkeeper Bismarck Oram.
With a comfortable two-goal cushion, the team from Imphal was content on staying back and defending its lead, with the occasional long ball to try and get a third, as NCC tried to break its defence.
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