A sterling performance by skipper Rahim Navi enabled defending champions West Bengal defeat Goa by a solitary goal even as Manipur trounced Orissa 7-0 in the league stage in 13th Junior National Under-21 Football Championship, for the Dr M Dutta Roy Trophy, at the Jamalpur Sports Association ground in Patna on Wednesday.
In a keenly-contested match, the Bengal boys repeatedly raided Goan territory but could not score initially as the Goa defenders frustrated their attempts.
However, Bengal skipper Rahim Nabi's in-swinging direct free-kick in the 40th minute fetched his team the lone goal.
Though the Goa midfielders and forwards coordinated well, making short passes in the second half to mount pressure on the Bengal defence, they were unable to find the equalizer mainly due to poor finishing by their strikers.
Right striker Zico D'Souza came close to scoring in the 60th minute but missed an easy sitter.
In the other match of the day, Manipur drubbed Orissa 7-0, scoring twice in the first half and five goals in the second.
Right striker Banny Chiru opened the account in the 23rd minute with a fine right-footer and increased the tally with goals in the 38th and 83rd minutes.
Meikingai Kamei (58th minute), O Bijeshor Singh (78th) and P Shyamu Singh (85th and 90th minutes) accounted for the other goals.