Perfect Chennaiyin FC U13s win Chennai zone and qualify for final round

The Chennaiyin FC Under 13 team defeated Football Plus 3-0 in their final Under 13 National Youth League group fixture at the SSN College Ground here today. The CFC U13s have now qualified for the final round in their debut season with a 100% record.

Chennaiyin entered this final group game against Football Plus needing a point to qualify for the final round. And they began the match brightly but failed to find the decisive pass in the final third. In-form Chennaiyin striker Mohamed Liyaakath had a glorious opportunity on 14 minutes to open the scoring. A long ball caught the Football Plus keeper off his line but Liyaakath shot off target from a tight angle with the goal gaping.

The CFC U13s’ persistence finally paid off when K. Suriya broke the deadlock on 25 minutes. Receiving the ball at the edge of the area, Suriya sold a delightful dummy to an onrushing defender before racing past another and scoring from a powerful shot with the keeper wrong-footed.

Both sides had some decent half-chances following the goal but Chennaiyin went into the interval a goal to the good.

Football Plus came at the CFC U13s in the second half in search of an equalizer, but it was the boys in blue that doubled their lead. Liyaakath beat a couple of defenders on the break before making it 2-0 with a low shot from inside the box.

With Football Plus chasing the game, CFC always posed a danger on the break. From one such counter-attack, Naresh Kumar set up Suriya at the edge of the box, who clattered the crossbar with a powerful shot. Suriya however did score his second two minutes later when he was on hand to make it 3-0 from close range after the ball ricocheted off an opposition player near the penalty spot.

The win takes the CFC U13s to the final round of the U13 National Youth League in their debut season, winning all of their eight group matches and finishing top of the Chennai zone with 24 points.

Score: Chennaiyin FC U13s 3 (K. Suriya 25′, 68′; Mohd. Liyaakath 47′) beat Football Plus 0