Odisha FC and FAO Academy (both from Odisha) suffered defeats in respective Group-J matches of the AIFF Sub-Junior League 2024-25 at Aghomath Park Stadium in Kalna, West Bengal today. United Sports Club thrashed Odisha FC 7-1, while SKM Sports Foundation blanked FAO Academy 4-0.
With four defeats in a row, Odisha FC tumbled to the bottom of the group table, unable to win a single match yet. On the other hand, FAO Academy stood fourth in the table with six points from four matches, which include two wins and two losses.
A total of 58 club and academy teams are participating in this tournament, which started earlier on 9 February 2025. Teams will play matches in 10 groups. The tournament, featuring a total of 169 matches, will continue till 10 April 2025.
FAO ACADEMY TEAM: Goalkeepers: Anugrah Chakraborty, Ayushman Barik. Defenders: Mritunjay Singh Gurung, Nabin Ekka, Nakul Bhumij, Subham Dehuri. Mid-fielders: Trayabakam Behera, Ajit Majhi, Angad Kalser, Prasiddh Jena, Satyajit Singh. Forwards: Ashutosh Rout, Khageswar Mahto, Omm Prakash Sahoo, Sk Tamim, Hardik Baral, Pritam Barija, Ayan Khan, Raj Kishore Murmu, Triban Purty. Coach: Manoj Kumar Nayak/Sai Prasad, Physiotherapist: Dr Sagar Ranjan Dixit.
ODISHA FC TEAM: Goalkeepers: Sahil Rout, Siddharth Jena. Defenders: Sai Shreesh Ray, Sujal Aind, Rayaan Yazxani, Mritunjai Singh Gurung, Aryan Oram. Mid-fielders: Aditya Baral (Captain), Mrutyunjaya Mahalik, Aurodeep Khatua. Forwards: Aditya Chita, Vhabani Sankar Sahoo, Anshumann Dash. Coach: Mir Aatif Ali, Manager: Barun Das.
MATCHES OF ODISHA TEAMS:
27 March 2025 (Match 2): FAO Academy (Nabin Ekka 12, Ajit Majhi 52) lost to Jamshedpur FC (Ashraful Rahbar 7, 24, 30, Kartik Marandi 30, M Karthikeyan 49) 2-5. PoM: Ashraful Rahbar.
28 March 2025: Inter Kashi FC (Ayush Yadav 18, Vikash Kumar Verma 26, 42, Jay Singh 35, 54) beat Odisha FC (Vhabani Sankar Sahoo 68) 5-1. PoM: Vikash Kumar Verma.
29 March 2025: FAO Academy (Ajit Majhi 8) beat Inter Kashi FC 1-0. PoM: Ajit Majhi.
29 March 2025: SKM Sports Foundation (Sayan Roy 5, Sudip Murmu 10, 12, 26, 43, 68, Sandipan Shil 29, 35, Arju Murmu 65) beat Odisha FC 9-0. PoM: Sudip Murmu.
31 March 2025: FAO Academy (Satyajit Singh 1, 27, 41, 58, Ajit Majhi 5, 23, 37-P, Sk Tamim 12, Hardik Baral 26, Subham Dehuri 48) beat Odisha FC 9-0. PoM: Satyajit Singh.
2 April 2025: United Sports Club (Rudra Roy Gupta 12, 29, 40, 57, Debraj Gayen 50, 59, Argha Goswami 62) beat Odisha FC (Sahil Rout 41) 7-1. PoM: Rudra Roy Gupta.
2 April 2025: SKM Sports Foundation (Sudip Murmu 8, 23, 49, Sandipan Shil 47) beat FAO Academy 4-0. PoM: Sudip Murmu.
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PHOTO: Players and coach of FAO Academy pose before their opening match of the AIFF Sub-Junior League in Kalna on 27 March 2025.