Nita Football Academy 1 (2) (Khundongbam Ambalika 45+5’ p)
lost to
HOPS FC 1 (4) (Sonia 43’)

AIFF Media Team

NARAINPUR, CHHATTISGARH: HOPS FC pipped Nita Football Academy via a pulsating penalty shootout to etch their names in history and lift the inaugural AIFF U17 Women’s Youth League title on a rain-soaked afternoon at the RKM Football Academy in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh, on Wednesday, July 29, 2026.

The regulation time had ended 1-1 before HOPS won 4-2 on penalties. Both goals came towards the end of the first half. Sonia gave HOPS the lead in the 43rd minute, but Khundongbam Ambalika's stoppage-time penalty levelled it for Nita before the break. It stayed at 1-1 at the end of regulation time as well.

In a surprising move, defender Ambalika was handed the gloves and placed as the goalkeeper for the shootout by Nita. The change almost paid dividends as she did well to stop Sakshi’s direct shot.

But Deepika Kumari placed her shot wide as both teams failed to convert their first two chances. Mansi Sonkar placed in to give HOPS a 1-0 lead. But Niruta Baraghare also beat Sonam to level things. Then it was Sonia and Lipi Kishan's turn to score and make it 2-2. Revika placed low as HOPS led 3-2. Sonam dived to her left to deny Ritu Badaik. That meant Ranjita Hembrom had the opportunity to score the winning shot, and the midfielder did well to push it low into the net as HOPS won the shootout 4-2.

The weather Gods decided to come down in full force. The skies opened up all through and a little more than an hour before kick-off, it was simply pouring. The wet conditions made the ground quite heavy and slippery too.

Both sides rightly adopted the first-time clearances approach with aerial play on view more often. As a result, the ball was confined between the two 18-yard boxes. The occasional ground pass did slip through but the alert goalkeepers rushed out to foil the moves.

The rains did not relent and even intensified at times. It was Nita who revelled early on and the tournament's top scorer Deepika Kumari had three good chances within the first 17 minutes. HOPS goalkeeper Sonam let slip Khundongbum Ambalika’s free-kick but before Deepika could react, Sonam pushed it over for an abortive corner.

Two minutes later, Deepika fired wide a fine pass from Niruta Baraghare. Sonam then pulled off a double save to deny Niruta and Deepika.

HOPS came into the picture late in the first half with some fine lobs and centres into the box but Nita custodian Alisha Majhi dealt with them well.

And against the run of play, HOPS forged ahead. Sonia dipped her free-kick from 40 yards out into the box. The ball lobbed over Sonam’s head into the net.

But Nita fought back to level terms before the breather. Niruta once again fired but it was diverted towards the left. As Deepika gave chase, Sonam rushed out and made contact with the Nita player inside the box, which was deemed as a foul. Ambalika, who had struck four goals in the tournament so far, got her fifth as she placed the resultant penalty to the left of the goalkeeper into the net.

It rained intermittently for most of the second half. But both sets of players battled on gamely, braving the testing conditions.

HOPS custodian Sonam denied good efforts from Ritu Badaik, Niruta and Ambalika as Nita forced the pace. But the Cuttack side were unable to break through as the Delhi side did well to hang on until the end of the regulation time.