NEW DELHI, February 23: Last year's runners-up Bihar snatched full points when they downed hosts Delhi 2-0 in their opening group 2 quarter-final league match of the 21st Sub-junior (under-16) National football championship for the Justice Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy at the Ambedkar Stadium here today.In another match in the same group, two teams of the North-East, Assam and Mizoram, played a goalless draw to share points.Bihar, consisting of nine Tata Football Academy (TFA) players, scored one goal in each half to collect three points and made an impressive start against the spirited Delhi lads. Following an even-exchanged initial half, Bihar scored two minutes before the interval. A lapse on the part of Delhi's defenders - Sanjay Dhyani, Kuldeep Singh and Shalender - in clearing a Bihar attack from the right, enabled Bihar's striker Krishna Tudu to capitalise and net the opening goal in the 38th minute.In the mid-session of the initial half, Delhi missed a good chance when striker Saurab Bhist failed to connect a corner-kick from the right by G. Ninja Kubai.On changing ends, both teams played an attacking game and exchanged equal moves. Delhi's left winger Sumit Thapa after dribbling past Bihar's defenders could not get past their goalkeeper Manash Barua. In the 52nd minute, after a quick breakaway move Bihar scored the second goal through striker Malawmtulonga who converted a cross from the right.Later on, in a well-contested match played between two North-East teams, there was a lot of goalmouth action by the boys from Assam and Mizoram but both could not score. Mizoram were handicapped today because of the absence of their star striker L. V. Luaia (top scorers with 11 goals in the preliminary league) who had collected two yellow cards. The team lacked punch upfront. Both teams got many goal-scoring chances but their forwards muffed easy chances.In the 65th minute, Assam's striker Sanjeeva Ronapi took a stiff try from the right which rebounded off custodian Billy Laldinangha but substitute Raja Roy delayed and was dispossessed. Five minutes later, Mizoram's right winger Zodunliana's cross was deflected by goal-keeper Richard Choudhary on to the cross piece and skipper Noramliana shot the rebound weakly into the hands of the goal-keeper.Meanwhile, Bihar's three players - Sanjay Kumar Mandal, Mantu Kumar and Tebreg Quaiser - were found over-age after medical test and were disqualified.Delhi blues win: Delhi Blues beat BSF 3-2 in the Guru Gobind Singh football tournament at Jalandhar. Biren Mathai, Sanjeev Sharma and Bhupinder Thakur scored for the winners.
