Smarnik thapa

All India Football Federation: Punjab FC scored three second-half goals inside ten minutes to successfully defend their title in the AIFF Elite Youth League 2025-26, securing a commanding 3-0 victory over Zinc Football Academy in the final at the Ramsar Sahib Sports Stadium in Garhshankar, near Hoshiarpur in Punjab on Tuesday.

A 10-minute burst in the second half saw The Cubs score three goals with Karish Soram opening the scoring in the 69th minute. Vishal Yadav doubled the advantage in the 70th minute, and the game was put to bed by a 79th-minute strike by Thongram Rishikanta Singh.

Punjab FC dominated possession throughout the first half, with most of the play confined to the Zinc Academy half. Vishal and Sameer both tested Zinc FA goalkeeper Smarnik Thapa early on, but the custodian responded well to keep them out.