Punjab FC clinched the AIFF U-17 Elite Youth League 2024-25 title after defeating Jamshedpur FC 4-1 in the final at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.
A superior first half show saw Punjab surge ahead 4-0 at the break through goals from Karish Soram (28’), Ashish Lohar (34’), Vikash Kisku (37’), and Usham Thoungamba Singh (39’). Heerangamba Seram (84’) pulled one back for Jamshedpur FC late in the second half.
After a tight start to the game, Karish broke the deadlock with an ‘olímpico’ goal, curling the ball in from the corner a little ahead of the half-hour mark. The goal changed the complexion of the game.
A few minutes later, Ashish Lohar made a smart interception on the half-line, just as Jamshedpur were looking to put bodies forward in attack. The full-back sprinted up the line, turned inside, stepped past the keeper, and slit the ball in from an acute angle as it hit the inside of the far post and went in.
Punjab FC captain Aniket Yadav got involved for the third one, making a bustling run into the box before squaring it to Kisku to tap it in from close range.
Usham Singh was the creator and scorer of the fourth goal, as he played Thongram Rishikanta Singh into a half-space. The latter unleashed a left-footer that crashed into the upright and fell kindly into Usham’s path, as he scored into a near-empty goal.
The mountain that Jamshedpur had to climb proved to be too tall in the second half. Although Heerangamba scored an 84th minute header to pull one back, they were just too far behind to mount any semblance of a comeback.
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