Somaiya Sports Academy’s 4-0 Victory Falls Short as AIFF Elite Youth League Dreams End

by FC October 15, 2025

Somaiya Sports Academy secured 4-0 win over Kenkre FC but failed to progress in the AIFF Elite Youth League, narrowly missing out on advancing due to goal difference as SSE BFC’s impressive 11-goal tally gave them the edge.

Coming into the fixture, Somaiya Sports Academy (SSA) knew exactly what was at stake. Just two days prior, SSE BFC had stunned the competition with an 11-0 cruising of Hungry Hearts SS, placing immense pressure on SSA. Trailing by one goal in goal difference, SSA were handed the uphill task of scoring at least 13 goals to secure direct qualification.

With the odds stacked against them, the boys in red began with purpose and intensity. Their intent was clear from the opening whistle. In the 7th minute, forward Dikshant Konar found the back of the net with a composed finish, sending a warning to the Kenkre defense. Just three minutes later, SSA’s in-form striker and top scorer Gururaj Mane doubled the lead with a beautifully taken goal that flew past the keeper.

Before the break, midfield engine Amarjit Yadav added a third, solidifying SSA’s dominance in the first half. Heading into halftime with a 3-0 lead, SSA looked halfway through the job. Kenkre, already short on substitutions and showing signs of fatigue, seemed ripe for the taking.

Neelabh added SSA’s fourth around the 60th minute with a calm and clinical finish, raising hopes that a comeback on goal difference might still be on the cards.

However, the match soon took a turn. As SSA pushed for more goals, tensions flared on the pitch. The intensity boiled over into aggression, and the game saw several heated moments. Frustration and urgency got the better of SSA, resulting in three red cards to their players that not only hampered their momentum but left them numerically disadvantaged.

The referee and match officials had their hands full, with cautions flying throughout the closing stages of the game. What could have been a goal-fest for SSA instead spiraled into chaos, and their dreams of a fairytale debut season in the national league came to a premature end.

At the final whistle, despite a 4-0 win, SSA had fallen short of the qualification target. It was a valiant effort, but not enough.

Maharashtra Zone – Other Key Results

In other key AIFF Elite Youth League qualifier matches from the Maharashtra Zone:

• In Pune: Snigmay Pune FC faced UKM Kothrud in a high-stakes eliminator, where UKM Kothrud convincingly triumphed 3-1 to secure a top-3 finish and progress to the next stage.
• MH Oranje FC delivered a strong performance with a 4-2 victory over Brothers SA, ensuring their place among the top 3 teams in the zone.
• SSE BFC, fresh off their 11-0 blitz, followed it up with a 2-0 win over Mumbai Soccer Prodigies, clinching the final qualification spot.

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