Tripura boys secured a semi-final berth in the Under-17 Dr BC Roy Trophy Football tournament after holding hosts Chhattisgarh to a 1-1 draw in Narayanpur on Saturday. The result kept the state team ahead of Chhattisgarh on goal difference and confirmed their place among the top four teams.
Key Takeaways:
- Tripura drew 1-1 with hosts Chhattisgarh in the final group match.
- Neruka Jamatia scored Tripura goal in the 17th minute.
- Tripura advanced to the semi-finals on goal difference.
Tripura have advanced to the semi-finals of the Under-17 Dr BC Roy Trophy Football tournament. The state team held hosts Chhattisgarh to a 1-1 draw in the final group league match on Saturday.
The result proved enough for Tripura to move into the last four. Tripura finished ahead of Chhattisgarh on goal difference. The semi-final matches will be played on September 1.
Neruka Jamatia Gives Tripura Early Lead
Tripura started the match with confidence at the Ramakrishna Mission ground in Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh.
The state players produced a strong performance against the hosts. They showed good attacking intent from the opening minutes.
Tripura took the lead in the 17th minute. Neruka Jamatia found the target with a brilliant finish.
The early goal gave Tripura an important advantage. The team then tried to control the match and protect its lead.
Chhattisgarh, however, increased the pressure as the first half progressed. The hosts eventually found the equaliser towards the end of the opening half.
The two teams went into the interval with the score tied at 1-1.
Attacking Football After Break
The second half saw both teams adopt an attacking approach.
Tripura looked for opportunities to regain the lead. Chhattisgarh also pushed forward in search of the winning goal.
Both sides created chances. However, neither team could score again.
The Tripura defence stood firm under pressure. The players also worked hard to prevent Chhattisgarh from creating clear scoring opportunities.
The match ended 1-1 after regulation time.
Goal Difference Sends Tripura Through
The draw was enough for Tripura to secure their semi-final place.
Chhattisgarh had the advantage of playing on home soil. However, Tripura stayed ahead in the group standings because of their superior goal difference.
The result also highlighted the competitive nature of the group stage. Tripura needed a positive result against the hosts to keep their qualification hopes on track.
The players responded with a disciplined display and secured the result they needed.
Manager Praises Tripura Players
After the match, Tripura team manager Sunil Bhowmik praised the players for their performance.
Bhowmik said the team produced excellent football against the hosts. He also felt that Tripura could have collected all three points if some refereeing decisions had gone differently.
The manager also highlighted the performance of several players.
Goalkeeper Pritam Tripura received special praise. He made several important saves during the match.
Pritam showed excellent reflexes under the bar. His saves helped Tripura stay in contention when Chhattisgarh applied pressure.
The goalkeeper played a key role in helping the team secure the 1-1 result.
Focus Turns to Sept 1 Semi-Final
With the group stage completed, Tripura will now prepare for the semi-final.
The identity of the opponent will be known after the remaining group league matches are completed.
The semi-finals are scheduled for September 1.
Tripura will enter the last four with confidence after successfully negotiating a difficult match against the host team.
The performance against Chhattisgarh also gives the state side momentum ahead of the knockout stage. Neruka Jamatia goal, Pritam Tripura saves and the overall team effort proved crucial in securing qualification.
Tripura will now look to convert its strong group-stage campaign into a place in the final of the Under-17 Dr BC Roy Trophy Football tournament.
