Banganson Nongkhlaw scored a terrific hat-trick to send Meghalaya into the semifinals of the U-17 boys’ Subroto Cup 2024.
Meghalaya defeated the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, represented by Minerva Public School of Mohali, 3-1 on a muddy and uneven pitch in New Delhi today.
The match began at 8:30am and Banganson put Meghalaya into the lead in the first half of the 70-minute match. Meeting a good cross from the left flank, he controlled the ball with his chest, took it past one defender and then fired almost blind before another defender could intercept him. The shot did not have much power but was perfectly placed to beat the goalkeeper.
Almost immediately at the start of the second half Banganson headed in a cross to double Meghalaya’s lead. His third goal was a little fortuitous. A shot came in from a team mate but was off target. Luckily for Meghalaya, Banganson was in the path of the ball and he flicked it for another goal headed in.
A couple of minutes later, CISCE pulled one back but there was no further change in scoreline.
Meghalaya will play their semifinal opponents on Monday.
Meghalaya are being represented at the national-level tournament by Mynken Christian Higher Secondary School of Ri-Bhoi, which won the state-level Subroto Cup in July.
They topped Group F in New Delhi by winning all three of their matches against Bihar, Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.
Meghalaya’s U-15 boys, represented by another Ri-Bhoi school (Nongjri Presbyterian Higher Secondary), won their Subroto Cup category in Bangalore on August 28, while the U-17 girls’ team from Christian Higher Secondary School (also of Ri-Bhoi) exited at the quarterfinal stage.
