Shillong, May 18: Meghalaya finished at the top of Group A in the Swami Vivekananda U-20 Men’s National Football Championship 2026 after registering a commanding 3-0 victory over Rajasthan on May 17, maintaining a flawless record in the group stage.
The victory ensured Meghalaya ended their campaign with a perfect tally of 12 points from four matches and secured a place in the quarter-finals in Narayanpur.
Meghalaya made an explosive start and took the lead within the opening three minutes. Mebanlamlynti Masharing found the net with a header from an Imeral Jana corner, giving his side an early advantage and setting the tone for the contest.
The team continued to control possession and dictated the pace of the game. Their attacking pressure paid off again in the 17th minute when Ryan Gibbs Kharnaior doubled the lead. A quick attacking move opened up space inside the box before Ryan calmly finished with his left foot past the goalkeeper.
Rajasthan found it difficult to break through Meghalaya’s organised pressing and attacking movement. The result was virtually sealed before the interval as Phermanbha Lyngdoh added a third goal in the 38th minute, leaving Rajasthan with little chance of mounting a comeback.
The latest victory further highlighted Meghalaya’s impressive form throughout the group stage. The side had already produced dominant performances against Bihar, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh and ended the group phase with 19 goals scored while conceding just two.
Carrying strong momentum into the knockout stage, Meghalaya will now take on the winners of Group C in the quarter-finals.
