Khelo India Youth Games: Mizoram in boys’ U-21 football final

Pune: Mizoram dominated proceedings but still needed penalties to beat Goa 4-2 and enter the final of the Boys’ Under-21 football competition of the Khelo India Youth Games at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex here on Thursday.

They await the winners of the other semi-finals to be contested between Kerala and Punjab.

The Boys Under-17 final will be contested between Punjab and Karnataka while the U-17 Girls gold medal match will see Odisha take on Jharkhand.

Mizoram dominated the game, but were unable to break through the tight Goan defence. Ultimate after 90 minutes and four minutes injury time, penalties were used to break the deadlock and Mizoram went through 4-2.

In the morning, Odisha edged past Manipur 2-1 in the Girls Under-17 semi-finals while Jharkhand swamped Kerala 7-0.

In the Boys Under-17 section, Punjab dumped hosts Maharashtra 3-1 while Karnataka edged past Kerala 8-7 on penalties in the other semi-final after full-time had ended 1-1.

In a crowded day’s programme, Tamil Nadu beat Maharashtra 3-2 and Manipur got the better of Mizoram 3-0 in the Girls Under -21 category. So, Maharashtra will meet Mizoram for bronze while Tamil Nadu and Manipur will contest the final. (IANS)

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