North Eastern English School, Manipur rode on a double strike from skipper Md Ajaruddin Shah to blank newcomers MSP Mallapuram, Kerala 4-0 in the U-14 Group A encounter of the Subroto Cup inter-school football tournament at the B R Ambedkar stadium here today.
The 54th edition of Asia's oldest inter-school tournament was earlier inaugurated with a crisp but impressive opening ceremony.
Four matches were also played on the opening day.
The Kerala outfit, who had fielded an U-14 team for the first time after their U-17 side reached the final last year, and was expected to put up a fight in front of a capacity crowd but failed to impress.
Manipur dominated the proceedings throughout and Ajaruddin opened their account in the 21st minute.
The son of a postmaster virtually killed the competition in the 38th minute with a well converted penalty. Tom Cruise (35) and Sheih Einul Hague (49) completed the tally for the North Eastern side.
In the day's other match, Sikkim's Tashi Namgyal Academy blanked GSS MUS, Car Nicobar 5-0.
The Gangtok team, which idolises former India skipper and school alumni Baichung Bhutia, scored through Sidhant (8th), Karma Loday (10p, 40) and Tendong (12, 16).
Results (U-14):
North Eastern School, Manipur 4 (Md Ajaruddin 21, 38; Tom Cruise 35; Sheih Einul Hague 49) bt MSP Malappuram, Kerala 0
Tashi Namgyal Academy, Gangtok, Sikkim 5 (Sidhant 8, Karma Loday 10p, 40, Tendong 12, 16) bt GSS MUS, Car Nicobar 0
Krishnadevpur High School, Burdwan West Bengal 9 (Sayam Das 7, 24; Sourab Sardar 20, 30, 31; Mohd Ali 36; Ishan Paul 38, 40; Bishwanth Karmakar 47) bt Govt. Senior Secondary School, Lakshwadeep 0.
