AIFF Media Team
NARAINPUR, CHHATTISGARH: Manipur and Odisha booked their spots in the finals of the 29th Senior Women's National Football Championship for the Rajmata Jijabai Trophy 2024-25 at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground on Saturday, December 21, 2024.
In the semi-finals, Manipur, 22-time champions and considered the powerhouse of Indian women’s football, defeated West Bengal 3-0, while Odisha scored once in each half to beat last year’s runners-up Haryana 2-0. This is the seventh time Odisha will play the final, which will be played at the same venue on December 23, 2024.
Odisha won the title once in the 2010-11 season in Bhilai. They finished runners-up on five occasions, losing to Manipur in the final. The last time two teams met in the final was in the 2018-19 edition in Cuttack when Manipur edged out hosts Odisha 2-1.
The match will be streamed live on ssen.com.
Manipur too good for West Bengal
Manipur 3 (Dangmei Grace 53’, Naorem Priyangka Devi 55’, Hemam Shikly Devi 78’)
beat
West Bengal 0
Packed with experienced Internationals, Manipur began the firm favourites but took time to settle down as West Bengal’s defensive tactics managed to keep them at bay till half time.
The 22-time champions, however, could not be kept under check beyond the 53rd minute as Dangmei Grace duly opened the account for Manipur off a long ball from the middle. Grace’s graceful run with the ball left two Bengal defenders struggling behind and the international striker moved into the box to beat Bengal goalkeeper Manju with a right footer.
Manju did a creditable job in the first half but proved vulnerable with long rangers in the second. Priyangka Devi picked up the second goal a couple of minutes later from around 25 yards. Her right-footed shot was a dipping drive and Manju had no answer.
The fate of the match nearly sealed, Manipur added one more in the 78th minute. Shilky Devi, in a quick turn from outside the box, took a shot that dropped in the box before eluding the hands of the diving custodian.
Odisha make short work of Haryana
Haryana 0
lost to
Odisha 2 (Pyari Xaxa 10', 88')
Odisha captain and striker Pyari Xaxa played a pivotal role in her team’s victory scoring both goals. The contest began in an energetic fashion, with attacks from both sides.
A few good saves by India international Shreya Hooda under the Odisha bar prevented an early Odisha opener. Still, Hooda could do little when, in the 10th minute, Pyari dribbled past a couple of defenders to give Odisha the lead. It was a fine individual effort on part of the India International.
After the breather, Haryana mostly played through the wings and kept pushing forward, but, unfortunately, could not convert their chances. Odisha goalkeeper, Sasmita Parida was a standout player today as she managed to block the wave of attacks from Haryana in the second half.
Pyari put the game to bed in the 88th minute when her free-kick from the right slipped through Hooda’s hands to roll over the line virtually ending Haryana’s chances of making the final for the second time in a row.
Monday’s fixtures (final): Manipur vs Odisha
Shop
