Nagaland signed off their Swami Vivekananda U20 Men’s National Football Championship campaign with an emphatic 8-1 victory over Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (DNHDD) in a Group B match at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground, Chhattisgarh, on Wednesday.
Despite the emphatic result, Nagaland were already out of contention for a quarter-final berth, with only the top team from each group progressing to the knockout stage. The result, however, ensured they finished with four points, ahead of Chhattisgarh on goal difference, while Manipur topped the group with a perfect record of three wins from three matches.
Nagaland produced a commanding display against a 10-man DNHDD side, with multiple players contributing to the scoreline. An own goal by Piyush G Kokate in the 36th minute opened the floodgates, followed by Vinato Achumi’s strike a minute later. Nokwang Konyak added a brace just before halftime, scoring in the 41st minute and in added time of the first half.
Lunmingou Singsit extended the lead in the 51st minute, while Viselie Vasa netted twice in quick succession in the 62nd and 64th minutes. Jared A Awomi capped the scoring for Nagaland in stoppage time. DNHDD’s lone goal came late through Pushpitra Thakur in the 90+2 minute.
Earlier in the group, Nagaland had suffered a defeat to Manipur and managed a 1-1 draw against Chhattisgarh.
Manipur confirmed their quarter-final berth with a 5-1 win over Chhattisgarh, maintaining their unbeaten run. With three straight victories, Manipur emerged as the clear leaders of Group B, while Nagaland and Chhattisgarh ended their campaigns outside the knockout stage.