Subroto Cup: Chandigarh to meet Nagaland in final

New Delhi: Government Model High School (Chandigarh) kept their nerves intact during the crucial penalty shootout against Bangladesh Kidha Siksha Pratisthan to emerge 4-2 winners and grab a spot in the under-14 Boys final in the 55th edition of Subroto Cup football here on Sunday.

Chandigarh, the only outfit to keep the hopes of North alive, will take on Nagaland in the final to be played on Tuesday.

For the Model School Sumit Rathi, Amarjit Singh, S Sanjeev and Karan converted their chances while only Rashadul Islam and Borhanuddin managed to find the target for the Bangladesh team.

In a survival-of-the-fittest case, both teams played a tight game to begin with only to go back into their shells later.

In the tie-breaker, nervous shooting by BKSP only added to their misery as Chandigarh boys clinched the semifinal game to go through unscathed.

Chandigarh coach Harjinder put things in perspective.

"I am not at all happy. It was our worst performance," he summed up the semifinal.

"We should have beaten BKSP rather easily without taking the match into penalty shootout. We can't afford to be playing like this against Nagaland team which is a much fitter and better side. We have to be focused," warned Harjinder.

Earlier, in the under-17 Girls event, Haryana and Meghalaya sailed into the quarterfinals topping their respective groups C and D.

Government Girls Senior Secondary School (Mangali) from Haryana, continuing their high-scoring trend, thrashed IPSC Pinegrove School from Shimla (HP) 14-0.

After a 17-0 grand opening yesterday against the Kerala school, the Haryana girls found an easy prey in the Himachal school. Yet again it was Renu who top-scored, slitting in five times. Others who got goals for the winners were Santosh (2), Pooja (4), Mona (3) and Anju (1).

Keeping the northeastern interest alive, Meghalaya High School beat Government Excellent Higher Secondary School from Madhya Pradesh 3-0. In the one-sided match, the winners should have struck more as they messed up a few chances that came their way. However, Aitihun Majaw who struck a brace and Rimis Nongtdu came good to see their team home.