Shillong, July 21, 2025: Meghalaya endured a tough start to their campaign in the Junior Boys National Football Championship 2025 (Tier 1) for the Dr BC Roy Trophy, suffering a 5-1 defeat against a dominant Kerala side in their Group B opener held in Amritsar on Monday.

Kerala took an early lead in the 10th minute through Muhammed Mijuwad, but Meghalaya responded swiftly with an equaliser from Baniar Kharsahnoh in the 18th minute, bringing the score to 1-1 — a result that held until halftime.

However, the second half saw Kerala shift gears and take complete control of the match. Goals from Jithu B (48′), a brace by Mohammed Sinan P (64′, 76′), and a late strike from Muhammed Hayan TP (84′) sealed a comprehensive victory for the southern side.

The result puts Meghalaya under pressure as they prepare for their second group match — a high-stakes clash against defending champions West Bengal on Wednesday. West Bengal earlier edged past Tamil Nadu 2-1 in their opening fixture, making the upcoming encounter a critical test for the Meghalaya boys.

With little time to recover, Meghalaya will need to regroup quickly, fix their defensive frailties, and bring more cohesion to their play if they hope to keep their tournament hopes alive.