Chhattisgarh, April 21 (MExN): Nagaland pulled off a 1-0 win over West Bengal in the Swami Vivekananda Under-20 Men’s National Football Championship (NFC) 2025 on Monday at Narainpur, Chhattisgarh.
In a match marked by weather disruptions and late drama, Nagaland’s early first-half goal from Ghuqhe Chishi (Jersey No. 8) proved decisive. Chishi’s strike came after sustained pressure from the Nagaland forwards, who dominated the first half with multiple attacking attempts that were either blocked or narrowly missed the mark.
West Bengal came out strong after the break, forcing the Nagaland defense to work hard in the second half. However, heavy winds, rain, and thunder interrupted play, causing a temporary suspension of the match. Following the restart, 16 minutes of added time were granted due to the weather delay.
Tensions escalated late in the match when a West Bengal player was shown a straight red card for an “indecent attempt” on the Nagaland captain. The incident triggered a brief commotion on the field, and Nagaland’s star forward wearing Jersey No. 7 also received a red card in the aftermath.
Despite mounting pressure and playing with numerical advantage in the closing stages, West Bengal could not break through a resolute Nagaland defense, with the goalkeeper pulling off crucial saves to maintain the slender lead.
Team Manager L. Shahoto Yimchunger informed that the win was dedicated to the memory of 88-year-old L. Marshila Ao, grandmother of player Pangersunep, who passed away the night before the match in her hometown of Tuli. “We send our deep condolences to the bereaved family with prayers, and the team decided to dedicate the win in her loving memory,” he stated.
With this win, Nagaland now tops the group with six points, ahead of Haryana with four points.
The Headhunters of Nagaland have now firmly stamped their mark on the tournament, having taken down one of India’s traditional football giants.
