By Minerva Academy FC Media

LUDHIANA: Minerva Academy FC U-18 boys registered a thumping 6-0 win over Fateh Hyderabad AFC in a U-18 I-League match played at the Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana on Tuesday. The pride of Punjab scored all the 6 goals in the first half of the match.

Subham Sarangi scored his 2nd hat-trick of the league while Amarjeet Singh scored a brace. Skipper Kamalpreet Singh also scored a beautiful goal.

Coming into the match trailing Lonestar Kashmir FC by 4 points, the Young Minervans ensured that  they close the gap to set up a deciding match between the two on December 24. A draw would take Kashmir FC to the final round while for the Minervans, it will be a must-win match.

With the match not even ticking 1 min on the clock, Amarjeet found the back of the net when he slammed in a perfect Jatinder cross from the left. The goal boost the confidence of the boys very early on as they went for the kill and came up with attacks after attacks.

But it was only in the 24th min that the Minervans doubled their lead through hat-trick boy Subham Sarangi. A minute later, Rudra’s power-pack left footer hit the bar post as the ball bounced back to play.

But it was Kamalpreet’s 32nd min strike that stayed the hallmark of the match. He dribbled the ball from the far end and beat two defenders with pace, before he unleashed a screamer from the edge of the box, giving no chance to the Hyderabad goalkeeper to keep away the ball.

A minute later, Subham had a shot at the goal which rebounded to play. Amarjeet, known for his poaching skills, made no mistake in picking up the ball before slotting it pass the keeper to score his 2nd goal of the match.

The attacked continued and so were the goals when Shubham dodged two defenders to score his 2nd goal before completing his hat-trick in the 42nd minute. The match went into the break with the Minervans already in the driving seat.

The 2nd half however was a story of miss chances as the Young Minervans failed to convert the chances they got. Hyderabad also improved as they defended relentlessly to ensure that they don’t concede any further.

In the end, it was the Minerva Academy Football Club which walked away with three points.

Minerva Academy FC will now face Lonestar Kashmir FC in the last match of the league on December 24.