Jamshedpur, January 25: Kartik Marandi and supersub Ashraful Rahbar struck late to help Jamshedpur FC Under-14 begin their AIFF Sub-Junior League 2025–26 campaign with a 2-0 win over RKM Football Academy at the JRD Tata Sports Complex on Saturday.

With the contest remaining goalless for most of the match, the breakthrough finally arrived in the 85th minute. Karthikeyan’s attempt on goal took a deflection and fell kindly for Kartik, who latched onto the loose ball, went one-on-one with the goalkeeper and finished calmly to put JFC ahead.

Just three minutes later, Jamshedpur FC sealed the result as Ashraful Rahbar, who had been introduced moments earlier, made the most of his opportunity by scoring from a one-on-one situation to double the lead and ensure all three points for the young Men of Steel.

Jamshedpur FC Under-14 will next face United Sports Club in an away fixture on January 29 at Kalyani, West Bengal.