After a tightly contested first half, Punjab FC produced a decisive burst of attacking football in the second period, scoring three goals within ten minutes to seal the title in style.

The defending champions dominated possession early on, dictating the tempo and creating multiple chances. Vishal Yadav and Sameer both tested Zinc’s goalkeeper Smarnik Thapa, who made crucial saves to keep his side level. Satnam Singh also came close from a set-piece, but his header was brilliantly denied. Zinc FA had moments of their own through set-pieces, though their efforts failed to trouble the Punjab defence.

The breakthrough arrived in the 69th minute when Karish Soram curled a stunning free-kick into the top corner after Vishal Yadav was fouled just outside the box.

Punjab doubled their lead almost immediately. A defensive error from Zinc allowed Vishal Yadav to intercept the ball high up the pitch, and the captain calmly finished to make it 2-0.

The result was put beyond doubt in the 79th minute when Thongram Rishikanta Singh completed a well-worked move, finishing confidently after being set up by Moirangthem Sayonba Singh.

Punjab FC controlled the closing stages with composure, seeing out the game comfortably to lift the trophy once again. The victory highlights their dominance at the youth level, as they retain their title in front of their home supporters with an impressive performance.

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Maharashtra Oranje FC ended their campaign on a high with a 4–2 victory, showing great fighting spirit until the final whistle. However, despite the win, they fell just short on goal difference. Oranje’s performances reflected their attacking flair and the progress of their youth system, even though qualification narrowly slipped away.

SSE BFC, meanwhile, continued their impressive form, built on sharp finishing and disciplined defending. The Mumbai side had earlier produced one of the standout results of the qualifiers with a commanding 11–0 victory which was a key fixture in context to their qualification to the knockouts of the qualifiers and carried that momentum to finish among the top two. Their balance between creativity and control proved crucial in such a tight race.

UKM Kothrud FC from Pune also rose to the occasion as they gave a tough fight to all teams who they faced in all rounds. Their vital results against strong opponents, including a win over Oranje earlier in the phase, played a key role in helping them qualify. UKM’s achievement is a proud moment for Pune football and a sign of how far their youth setup has come.

With SSE BFC and UKM Kothrud advancing, the stage is now set for the zonal round, where both teams will face the best from other regions. For Oranje FC, the campaign ends in heartbreak but also with plenty of positives, a display of promising young talent that will surely come back stronger in the next edition.

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Final Three Locked In

The road to this stage has been anything but easy. Each team has battled through a demanding set of fixtures and knockout stages to earn their place among the final trio:

MH Oranje FC – representing Mumbai, they’ve shown consistency in both attack and defense throughout the qualifiers so far. netting 13 goals in 3 matches and conceding just 4 goals.

SSE BFC – also from Mumbai, made headlines with a stunning 11-0 win and have looked dangerous in front of goal, while maintaining the defensive composure among the best team.

UKM Kothrud FC – Pune’s, they secured their spot with a convincing 3-1 win over Snigmay Pune FC in the eliminator round.

Format For the Final Round of Qualifiers

The final round will follow a single round-robin format, where each team plays the other once. The top two teams at the end of the mini-league will earn qualification to the Zonal Round, where they will rep against the best teams from other zones across India.

Match Venues and Schedule

The fixtures will be held across two iconic venues:

• Cooperage Football Ground, Mumbai
• Balewadi Practice Ground, Pune

Fixture List:

What’s at Stake

With the margin for error razor-thin, each game promises high-stakes drama. For the young talents of these academies, this stage is not just about qualification-it’s a chance to showcase themselves on a national platform and catch the eye and earn themselves the spotlight.

The AIFF Elite Youth League continues to be a vital pathway for nurturing grassroots talent in India, and Maharashtra’s final three are ready to make their mark.

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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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Their campaign began at the CIDCO Ground in Kharghar, where MH Oranje FC hosted Savvy Swaraaj FC. The stakes were high, but Oranje hit the ground running. Just three minutes into the game, Kaustubh Shinde, an experienced midfielder who has also featured in the club’s RFDL squad, opened the scoring with a calm finish to give the home side the perfect start.

MH Oranje maintained control throughout the game, dictating the tempo and creating several opportunities. Their persistence was rewarded late in the match when Lumshirin Ruivah doubled the lead in the 80th minute. Although a late goal from Kunj Patel—capitalizing on a rare goalkeeping lapse—brought Savvy Swaraaj back into the contest, MH Oranje comfortably held on to secure a 2–1 victory and a vital three points to kick off their campaign.

Riding high on confidence, MH Oranje FC then travelled to All Saints High School Ground, Bhiwandi, to face Thane City FC, and what followed was a masterclass in attacking football. Oranje dominated from start to finish, registering a resounding 7–1 victory to secure their qualification for the knockout stage in emphatic fashion.

The standout performer of the match was Sanoj Murmu, who stole the spotlight with a brilliant hat-trick and was rightfully named Player of the Match. His sharp movement, clinical finishing, and relentless energy proved too much for the Thane defense to handle.

Oranje’s attacking depth was on full display as Lumshirin Ruivah, Shaurya Jaglan, Arnav Late, and Vivaan Amin also found the back of the net, rounding off a dominant team performance. The team’s fluid passing, high pressing, and attacking combinations kept Thane pinned back for most of the game, reflecting the confidence and chemistry that have become MH Oranje’s trademark this season.

With two commanding wins, MH Oranje FC finished at the top of Group D, scoring nine goals across their two fixtures and conceding just twice. Their performances have been a testament to the hard work of the players and coaching staff, who have instilled both discipline and creativity within the squad.

As MH Oranje FC advance to the knockout stage of the AIFF Elite Youth League 2025–26, they carry not only momentum but also the belief of a team capable of going all the way. With talents like Sanoj Murmu leading the line and a cohesive unit backing him up, Oranje have made a clear statement — they are here to compete, to perform, and to win.

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Coming off a thrilling 3–3 draw against Conscient Sports in their previous outing, MSP entered this fixture determined to secure all three points — and they did just that with a commanding 4–2 victory over India Rush Soccer Club.

MSP got off to a flying start, taking the lead in just the third minute through Jahaan Sheth, who calmly slotted the ball past the Rush goalkeeper to set the tone for the game. The young forward was in unstoppable form, doubling his tally just before the halftime whistle to give MSP a comfortable 2–0 lead at the break.

The second half saw Jahaan complete his well-deserved hat-trick, further extending MSP’s advantage and highlighting his finishing capability. India Rush managed to pull one back through Brian, but MSP’s attacking momentum continued as Aayush added a fourth to put the result beyond doubt. Despite Brian scoring his second goal in stoppage time for India Rush, it was too little, too late as MSP secured a convincing win.

With this victory, Mumbai Soccer Prodigies sit on top of Group F, displaying impressive teamwork and attacking chemistry. Their final league match is set to take place on 13th October at Cooperage Ground, where they will face Bravo Football in what promises to be a thrilling contest as MSP aim to finish the league stage in style.

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Both teams entered the fixture with strong momentum following massive wins on their opening days (SSA with a 6-0 win; SSE BFC with a 7-0 victory), setting the stage for an intense clash where only a win would suffice.

The match began with high intensity, reflective of the aggressive approaches both teams brought to the pitch. SSA broke the deadlock in the 20th minute following an aggressive charge into the box.

The sequence began two minutes earlier when Ishan Mohammed showcased dazzling skill on the left wing, dribbling past defenders before delivering an outrageous outer-foot cross near the penalty box. Gururaj Mane met the delivery with a perfect run but was brought down by the SSE BFC skipper centre-back, leading the referee to point to the penalty spot. Gururaj confidently stepped up and slotted the ball into the right bottom corner, scoring his third goal of the campaign in just two games.

However, SSA’s lead was short-lived. SSE BFC fired back with an almost immediate equalizer from a corner. Ishaan Shanker delivered the corner kick to the near post, where Jaden Alex met the ball with a powerful, bullet header that left the keeper, Aarnav, with no chance as the ball sailed into the net. The teams entered halftime locked at 1-1.

The second half began with renewed intensity as both sides pressed hard for the decisive goal. The Cooperage ground witnessed a moment of pure magic in the 56th minute when SSE BFC’s Ishan Ghosh scored arguably the most outrageous goal of the campaign so far. After a heavy touch near the halfway line from second ball, the defender found himself with ample space and launched a rocket from over 25+ yards that nailed directly into the top right corner, stunning everyone watching.

Somaiya quickly answered with a banger of their own to level the score. A short corner involving Vedant Gajamal and Anush Chavan saw Vedant execute some filthy footwork to penetrate the box before setting up Eshan Mohammed. Eshan fired a strike directly to the top left corner from a tight angle, equalizing the score at 2-2.

Both teams created several close chances late on but couldn’t find the back of the net, ultimately settling for a 2-2 draw.

As things stand, the draw leaves SSE BFC as the Group C leaders with a superior Goal Difference (GD) of +7, while Somaiya Sports Academy sits second with a GD of +6.

Everything now comes down to the final matchday of the Group C Qualifiers, where GD will be paramount for securing the top spot and a place in the knockout stage:

• October 10th: SSE BFC takes on Hungry Hearts SS.
• October 13th: Somaiya Sports Academy faces Kenkre FC.

The pressure is inevitable, as both teams must not only win but also score as many goals as possible to top the table. The Cooperage is set for a dramatic conclusion to the group stage of Group C.

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SSA is competing in the Maharashtra Zone Qualifiers, where 20 teams are distributed across six groups, all fighting for a spot in the national round. SSA has been drawn into the challenging Group C alongside HHSS, SSE BFC Soccer Schools (Mumbai), and Kenkre FC.

The path forward is demanding: the six group toppers will advance to a knockout stage, where they will compete for the top three spots. Only two teams from the entire zone will ultimately qualify for the prestigious national round.

In the opening fixture Somaiya Sports Academy locked horns against Hungry Hearts Soccer School (HHSS) at the Cooperage Stadium. The SSA boys exuded confidence and aggression from the start. Early chances were created, including a free-kick from skipper Anush Chavan that narrowly missed the bar, while an long range ambitious attempt was saved by keeper.

The breakthrough arrived courtesy of early substitute Gururaj Mane, who wasted no time marking his presence. In the 42md minute, a sublime effort initiated by Akshat Padaya saw him run from his own half, dismantling three to four defenders before delivering a precise through pass to Gururaj, who slotted the ball into the net. The momentum swing was immediate. Just three minutes later, SSA doubled their advantage with an outrageous volley by Yash Bhandare, sending the team into the break with a commanding 2-0 lead.

SSA began the second half with even greater attacking intent, and were quickly rewarded in the 49th minute. Goal-scorer Yash Bhandare turned provider, delivering a superb run down the right flank before squaring the ball to Eshan Mohammed, who finished with a first-touch strike into the bottom left corner for the third goal.

Despite being 3-0 down, HHSS maintained a high defensive line, a risky tactic that was soon punished. Skipper Anush Chavan capitalized, launching a direct long ball over the top of defense line. Neelabh Bhoktiari timed his run perfectly to bring down the ball and finish a simple one-on-one chance into the bottom right corner.

In the very next attack, Anush was instrumental again, linking up in midfield to deliver the final pass to Gururaj Mane inside the box, who finished with a first-touch strike to the far post for his brace. The final blow was struck just before the whistle with an amazing solo effort by Dikshant Konar, who carried the ball from midfield, beat two defenders inside the box, and smashed a powerful strike into the right corner to seal the comprehensive 6-0 victory.

Looking at the convincing win and crucial win in this short format tournament, Somaiya Head Coach Harshil Somaiya stated “when we play a short league format, winning the first match is very crucial. It sets the tone for the tournament and gives the team confidence and momentum.”

Despite a massive win of 6-0 among these young players it’s also need to keep in minded to being grounded and Coach rightfully mentions that “We also remind the players that this is just the beginning. One win doesn’t decide the competition, so we stay grounded, keep improving, and focus on the next match.”

Other Results Across the AIFF Elite Youth League Qualifiers

In a Group G Qualifiers clash, Pune’s Adrenaline Sports triumphed over Pune Pioneers with a commanding 8-3 victory. Ayan Shedge led the charge with a hat-trick, while Samar Prasad and Joshua Chandekar each scored a brace to seal the emphatic win for Adrenaline Sports.

Over in Group D, Savvy Swaraaj FC hosted Thane City FC in Ahmedabad and cruised to a 6-1 victory, with forward Chittransh scoring a brilliant hat-trick to secure the three points for Savvy Swaraaj.

In Group H, the encounter between Rising Pune F.C. and Sportiqo Football Academy ended in a 1-1 draw, with both teams fighting hard but unable to break the deadlock.

With numerous matches yet to be played, the stage is set for an intense qualifying round. Stay tuned to Football Counter for updates as the race for the national round continues.

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A first half strike from Keisham Bikash Singh was enough for the club to secure their second youth league title of the season, after the Under-17 side won the AIFF U-17 Elite Youth League earlier this month.

The only goal of the match came in the 40^th minute after Arambam Deepak Singh put in a low cross from the right wing which the Minerva defence failed to clear properly. The clearance deflected off Bikash Singh and found the bottom corner of the net. The Cubs put in a resolute defensive display from then on led by Khupkhanlian, Maibam Mangalsana Meitei and Prabhjot Singh and well marshalled by Captain Jasmeet Singh from the centre of midfield. Prabhjot received the Player of the Final award for his performance. Goalkeeper Augustasya Gupta pulled off some stunning saves to maintain the lead for his side.

Punjab FC edged past Parappur FC Kerala 1-0 in the quarterfinals with Jasmeet Singh scoring the winner. The Cubs dominated East Bengal in the semi-finals to win 5-1 and qualify for the finals. Keisham Bikash Singh scored a brace while Taibang Nganba Takhellambam, Prabhjot Singh and Arambam Deepak Singh scored the other goals for the winners.

Punjab FC had earlier qualified for the knockouts by finishing second in Group C of the final round. In the first match, the youngsters went down to Minerva Academy FC 1-4 but bounced back to beat Football 4 Change Academy, Manipur 4-1 and Jamshedpur FC 3-0 to take them to the knockout rounds of the league. 

The Sandeep Alhan coached side finished second in the North Zone Regional Group stage to qualify for the Playoffs of the Final Round. They scored eight unanswered goals past Namdhari Sports Academy and Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools and beat Sri Dashmesh Martial Sports Academy 4-0. The only defeat came in a 1-6 loss to Minerva Academy FC. In the Playoffs, Punjab FC beat Kerala Blasters and Alchemy International FA, Bengaluru in identical 4-1 scores to qualify for the final round.

The youth teams of Punjab FC have been having a terrific season qualifying for the National Championship of all age group categories, winning the AIFF U-17 Elite Youth League earlier this month. The same side also clinched the Dream Sports Championship. The Sub-Junior team reached the semi-finals of the Final Round of the AIFF Sub-Junior League 2024-25 where they went down to FC Madras in the penalty shootout after both teams were tied 0-0 in regulation time.

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Goals from Karish Soram, Ashish Lohar, Vikash Kisku and Usham Thoungamba Singh within a space of 11 minutes ensured they secured the title.

Punjab FC won two out of their three final round playoff matches to qualify for the knockouts of the league. They were dominant in their 5-0 and 6-0 victories over Sudeva Delhi and FC Goa to book their place in the quarterfinals. The only loss was a 4-5, nine goal thriller against AIFF FIFA Talent Academy. In the quarterfinals, they comprehensively beat Bengal Football Academy 6-2 and in the semi-finals, the youngsters edged past FC Madras 3-2 to qualify for the finals.

The Ramesh Gangaram Bista coached side qualified for the final round of the tournament after finishing on top of the Zonal Round qualifiers, with seven wins, two draws and just one loss. They played Delhi FC, Sudeva Delhi FC, Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools, Minerva Academy FC and Sri Dashmesh Martial Sports Academy in the zonal qualifiers. 

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