Manipur Secures BC Roy Trophy by Defeating West Bengal in Junior Boys National Football Championship

Bengaluru, September 9 (Daily Kiran) : In a thrilling final held at the Bengaluru Football Stadium, Manipur successfully defended their title in the Dr. BC Roy Trophy Junior Boys National Football Championship. On Wednesday, they defeated West Bengal 3-1, marking their second consecutive championship victory.

With this win, Manipur claimed their third title in the tournament’s history, becoming the first team to retain the Junior Boys NFC crown since Mizoram in the 2019-20 season.

The match saw an impressive performance from Manipur, with Yogesh Singh Heikrujam and Jenson Meitei Thiam scoring in the first half. Muskaan sealed the victory with a third goal later on. West Bengal captain Debaraj Das managed to convert a penalty early in the second half, briefly giving his team hope for a comeback.

This final mirrored last year’s championship in Amritsar, where Manipur also defeated West Bengal, this time by a score of 3-0. The two teams had previously faced off in the 1999-2000 edition, where Manipur triumphed with a sudden-death goal in extra time.

Manipur dominated the first half, effectively controlling the game and applying constant pressure on West Bengal’s defense. The duo of Siroi Khwairakpam and Praveen Warepam on the right flank created numerous challenges for their opponents.

Yogesh broke the deadlock in the 26th minute with a brilliant free-kick just outside West Bengal’s penalty area, outsmarting goalkeeper Arpan Mitra. Jenson doubled the lead in the 39th minute, sprinting down the left, cutting inside, and striking a powerful shot from the edge of the box that found the net.

Five minutes into the second half, West Bengal pulled one back when Manipur’s wing-back Lanchengba Khwairakpam fouled Ayush Rajak inside the penalty area. Debaraj converted the penalty, placing the ball into the right corner.

After the break, West Bengal showed more aggression, but Manipur’s defense remained solid, denying any further chances. In the 88th minute, Manipur regained their two-goal cushion. Substitute Muskaan capitalized on a loose clearance, advancing into the box and firing a powerful shot past Arpan, solidifying the memorable win.

With the final whistle, Manipur celebrated yet another Junior Boys NFC title, reinforcing their dominance in the tournament.