Classic FA and Punjab make the semis via penalty shoot-outs

Dream Sports-AIFF junior league

Goa Khabar: Classic FA, Manipur and Punjab FC both reached the semi-finals of the Dream Sports championships-AIFF junior league via penalty shoot-outs. While Classic prevailed over Alchemy International 4-3, Punjab made short work of Madras 4-2 in the shoot-outs.

In the quarter-final match played at the Don Bosco grounds, Margao on Sunday morning, Classic who were trailing Alchemy International of Bengaluru throughout the match, levelled the score 2-2 almost at the end of stoppage time in the 95^th minute through S Omesh Singh.

Earlier in the game, Classic had drawn first blood through Syed Adil in the 8^th minute. However, Alchemy International raised their game by several notches to take the lead, via goals scored by substitute Sahanya Sud ( 32^nd min) and captain Umer Soef in the 54^th minute. In the afternoon game played in sweltering heat at the Raia grounds, Madras FC drew first blood against the defending champions Punjab with a Sarthak Bhattarai goal in the 8^th minute. Punjab bounced back with repeated attacks on the Madras citadel, but could draw level  only in the 81^st minute via a K Bikash Singh goal