DEFENDING champions Young Muslim Football Club (YMFC) stormed into the Super Four of the ongoing JSW Elite Division Football Tournament being played at Nagpur District Football Association’s Dr Ambedkar Stadium in Suyog Nagar. After a six days’ break the league resumed and YMFC showed no sign of rustiness as they rallied to beat South East Central Railways 3-1 and consolidated their position at the top of the 10-team table.

 

The six times league champions have 21 points from seven games and have an unbeatable lead of eight points from second placed SECR who have 13 points from seven games. Rahul Sankrutyayan Sports Association are at third spot with 12 points and last year’s runners-up Rabbani Club Kamptee are at fourth spot with 12 points. Top four teams will qualify for the Super Four League round.

 

On Monday, the Railmen denied YMFC any chance in the first half to score and stunned the trophy holders in the second half with a fine goal from P Tushal in the 67th minute. Tushal dribbled past a couple of defenders and fired in a powerful right footer to score his third goal of the competition. However, their joy was short-lived as YMFC scored two goals in space of two minutes, both coming from Shubham Dayma. The striker first directed the ball into the net after received the pass from Sakib in the 75th minute and then put his side ahead a minute later converting the perfect cross from Mohd Yasin to score his fourth goal of the meet. This season’s highest scorer and former player of the competition, Fahad Junaid then scored his ninth goal of the tournament in the 82nd minute acknowledging the calculated pass from Atharva to seal the deal.