Jorhat, Sep 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) – In a gripping series of matches at the Sub Junior Boys’ National Football Championship Tier 2, Haryana and Assam secured their spots in the finals by overcoming Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, respectively, on Wednesday.

At the Jorhat Stadium, the semifinals delivered high-stakes drama and stellar performances. Haryana edged out Himachal Pradesh with a nail-biting 2-1 victory that required 120 minutes of play to determine the winner. Rajeev Kapoor emerged as the savior for Haryana, scoring twice to ensure his team’s progression. Himachal Pradesh initially took the lead in stoppage time of the first half when Harshit Jaswal found the back of the net in the 45+2 minute. Despite holding onto this lead for most of the match, Himachal could not withstand Kapoor’s persistence. Kapoor equalized in the 90th minute through a penalty kick, pushing the game into extra time. With just four minutes remaining in the additional period, Kapoor struck again, sealing Haryana’s place in the finals.

In contrast, Assam dominated their semifinal against Rajasthan with a convincing 3-0 win. Tanmoy Boruah was the standout player, delivering a hat-trick that left no doubt about Assam’s superiority. Boruah initiated the scoring in the 17th minute and quickly doubled the lead just two minutes later. He completed his hat-trick early in the second half via a penalty kick, cementing Assam’s comprehensive victory and their place in the final showdown.

Meanwhile, in the Tier 1 segment of the Sub Junior Boys’ National Football Championship, Manipur and Goa confirmed their semi-final berths. Manipur clinched their spot by maintaining a flawless record in Group B. On the other hand, Goa’s advancement from Group D was marked by a critical 3-0 triumph over Bengal. This result was pivotal as it ensured Goa edged out both Bengal and Maharashtra based on goal difference.

Goa’s victory was orchestrated by impressive long-range strikes. Midfielder Aryan Uday Lingudkar broke the deadlock with a spectacular 25-metre free kick that found its mark. Elsan D’Souza added to Bengal’s woes with another powerful shot from outside the box, and Joseph Decosta rounded off the scoring to secure Goa’s semi-final position.

The semi-final line-up is now set, with Karnataka facing Delhi and Manipur going head-to-head with Goa on Friday. These upcoming matches promise to deliver more thrilling football as teams vie for the championship glory.