The long wait is finally over! Manipur has clinched the Manipur junior football title after a dominant 3-0 performance against defending champions West Bengal, ending a 25-year drought for the coveted Dr. B.C. Roy Trophy. The final showdown took place at the Guru Nanak Dev University Sports Complex in Amritsar on Wednesday.
From the first whistle, it was clear that Manipur came to play with unmatched hunger and intensity. Their relentless pressure paid off in the 17th minute when Khutleibam Sultan delivered a perfect low cross for Lourembam Naocha Singh, who fired a powerful left-footer into the net to open the scoring.
Dominant Display Secures Manipur Junior Football Title
Buoyed by the early lead, Manipur’s young guns controlled the game with sharp passing and tactical discipline, leaving West Bengal scrambling. The pressure mounted, and in the 37th minute, Manipur doubled their advantage.
Sultan was the creator once again, sending in a cross that Yumnam Sonamani headed towards goal. While the West Bengal keeper made the initial save, Ngayungmi Kashung was in the right place at the right time to tap in the rebound, sending the Manipur bench into a frenzy.
Defence Stands Tall as Attack Adds Final Flourish
West Bengal, despite having the tournament’s top scorer Rajdeep Paul, couldn’t find a way through Manipur’s solid defence. Paul was effectively marked out of the game, with a crucial block from Alex Oinam in the 80th minute snuffing out their best chance.
Just as the match headed into stoppage time, Manipur added a final, decisive goal. A clever assist from Sonamani found Amom Krish Singh, who calmly slotted home his sixth goal of the tournament in the 92nd minute.