AIFF Media Team

RUDRAPUR: Minerva Academy FC made the knockouts of the fourth edition of the AIFF Futsal Club Championship 2024–25 after defeating Real Lona FC 7-1 in a Group A match at the Shri Manoj Sarkar Stadium – Shivalik Hall on Saturday, August 9, 2025.

In the other match of the gorup, Aphuyemi Football Club notched up their first win of the tournament as they edged past Triumph FC 8-6. Akumyanger was the star of the show as he found the net seen times to become the highest scorer of the championship so far, with 12 goals to his name.

In Group B, Bhawanipore continued their hot run, defeating home side Corbett FC 9-4, while Golazo FC opened their account for the season with a 6-4 win over Thlangtiang Futsal Club.

Minerva Academy FC become second team to make quarters

Minerva Academy FC 7 (Lalit Vasantrao Patil, 4, 7, Lalruatzela, 7, James Lalnunchhana, 13, 14, Avishek 15, Shivkumar Shetty, 40)
defeated
Real Lona FC 1 (Ashish Rana 10)

Champions two seasons ago, Minerva Academy FC became the second team from their group to reach the quarter-finals of the competition. Earlier, Juggernaut FC reached the knockouts with an all-win record. Minerva, who had lost the first game to Juggernaut FC, made a strong comeback by notching up three victories on the trot. The winning streak helped them reach nine points from four games and ensure a last-eight berth.

On Saturday, James Lalnunchhana and Lalit Vasantrao Patil each scored a brace each against Real Lona, who suffered their second loss of the competition.

Akumyanger puts on a show for Aphuyemi FC

Aphuyemi Football Club 8 (Akumyanger 2, 21, 21, 23, 29, 32, 39, Thangousang Hangsing, 40)
defeated
Triumph FC 6 (Sayam, 20, 34, 37, Tenzin Loden, 30, 38, Rohit Deep Singh Jasrotia, 33)

If Bijoy Gusai stole the limelight with a double hat-trick for Goal Hunterz on Friday, it was Akumyanger’s turn on Saturday. While he opened his account with a beautiful strike in the second minute, he had to wait till the second half to score all his six goals. The rampage started in the 21st minute with back-to-back goals and he went on to further add to his tally in the 23rd, 29th, 32nd and 39th minutes. The performance also helped him surpass Juggernaut’s Shibu Sunny, who has 10 goals to his credit, and become the top scorer in the championship, so far.

For Triumph FC, Sayam also netted a hat-trick while Tenzin Loden hit a brace.

Bhawanipore put one step in quarter-finals

Corbett FC 4 (Malsawmzela 17′, Malsawmtluanga Pautu 18′, 39′, Pratik Swami 29′)
lost to
Bhawanipore FC 9 (Jayesh Sutar 17′, 35′, Sachin Patil 22′, Nikhil Mali 24′, 26′, 28′, 37′, Laltluangzela 30′, Augustin D’Mello 40′)

Debutant side Bhawanipore FC crushed defending champions Corbett FC 9-4 in Group B to go top of the table with six points. After this win, the West Bengal side need only one point from their last game against Thlangtiang FC to make the knockouts. Corbett, meanwhile, are still without a point and at the bottom of the table. The Uttarakhand side require a handsome victory against Golazo, and Bhawanipore to win their game, if they are to keep their title defence alive.

After a cagey 17 minutes, Bhawanipore broke the deadlock through Jayesh Sutar. Nikhil Mali netted four, while Sachin Patil, Laltluangzela and Augustin D’Mello also found the net. For Corbett, Malsawmtluanga Pautu scored a brace, while Malsawmzela and Pratik Swami scored one each.

Golazo nick thriller against Thlangtiang

Golazo FC 6 (Clinton D’Souza 1′, Shoaib Baig 23′, 37′, 40′, Seaon D’Souza 30′, Marvin Stephen 34′)
defeated
Thlangtiang FC 4 (R Lalmuankima 7′, R Lalchhantluanga 28′, Lalremruata 37′, Arjun Satyajit Singh 40′ og)

After a see-saw battle in the first half an hour, last season’s runners-up Golazo FC ultimately overpowered Thlangtiang Futsal Club 6-4 to win their first match. Shoaib Baig bagged a second-half hat-trick for Golazo. Seaon D’Souza, Clinton D’Souza and Marvin Stephen added a goal each.

Thlangtiang, who led 3-1 at one point, had three different scorers in R Lalmuankima, R Lalchhantluanga and Lalremruata before an own goal from Golazo’s Arjun Satyajit Singh also added to their tally.

Thanks to their solid comeback, Golazo now know that a win, which would also be a revenge for last season’s final defeat, against Corbett on Monday, will seal their knockout berth. Debutants Thlangtiang, meanwhile, have an uphill battle against Bhawanipore in the last match.