New Delhi, February 06, 2025: Riding on an impressive hat-trick by forward Vishal Yadav – his second of the Dream Sports Championship’s Delhi regional round – Punjab FC became the first team to qualify for the National Finals of the U-17 Football Tournament, which is going to be held in Goa in April
Held at the Frontier Football Club on Thursday, the side who won the inaugural edition of the Dream Sports Championship in 2024, once again continued to show their dominance with an impressive goal just four minutes into the start of the game.
Vishal, who had already scored a hat-trick in the regional round’s opening match against 90 Minutes FC, netted the early goal. Post which, Punjab FC took their foot off the pedal, allowing their opponents to work their way back. However, a lack of finishing hurt the Garhwal Heroes, who were unable to find the net despite occasional chances.
Having gone into the halftime break with a 1-0 lead, Punjab FC upped the ante in the second half in a bid to seal the win. This push was rewarded with a second goal for Vishal in the 52nd minute – a well-placed shot in the bottom corner of the goal. A trademark lob from the edge of the box by Vishal in the 68th minute, coupled with an incredible goalline defensive header by a Punjab FC centre-back, sealed the win for Punjab FC, who finished the regional round without conceding a single goal while scoring 17 goals.
“Our opponents put up a strong fight today, but we had a clear strategy from the start. After scoring early, we focused on controlling the tempo of the game to tire them out. This approach proved successful as we managed to score two more goals in the second half,” said Coach Ramesh Bista of Punjab FC. “I’m extremely proud of my players’ dedication and work rate. I would also like to express my gratitude to the Dream Sports Foundation for organizing this tournament. Such initiatives are vital for providing valuable match experience for players and coaches in India.”
In the Delhi leg of the Dream Sports Championship, defending champions Punjab FC began their campaign with a commanding 13-0 victory over 90 Minutes FC, featuring hat-tricks from Vishal Yadav and Sameer. Meanwhile, Garhwal Heroes FC secured their spot in the regional final with a convincing 7-0 win against Noida City, highlighted by Tictak’s hat-trick. Punjab FC then sealed their place in the regional final by defeating Zinc Football Academy 1-0 through Subham Gurung’s 47th-minute goal, setting up a clash with Garhwal Heroes FC for a spot in the National Final.