AIFF Media Team

NARAINPUR, CHHATTISGARH: Railways bounced back into contention in Group B of the 29th Senior Women's National Football Championship for the Rajmata Jijabai Trophy 2024-25, when they defeated West Bengal 2-1 at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground on Sunday, December 15, 2024.

With Haryana edging out Sikkim 1-0 in the day’s first match, Group B turned interesting with three teams – Haryana, Railways and Bengal – in with a chance to make the semi-finals.

As the points table stands currently, Haryana are at the top of the group with six points from two matches, followed by Railways (six points from three matches) and West Bengal (three points from two matches).   

Narrow win for Haryana

Haryana 1 (Poonam 41’)

beat

Sikkim 0

In a match in which Haryana held the upper hand, but couldn’t turn their supremacy to more than one goal, the decisive moment came in the 41^st minute when Poonam capitalised on a defensive lapse, slotting a composed left-footed strike into the bottom left corner from the edge of the box.

Both teams showcased competitive football throughout the match, with Sikkim creating opportunities but failing to find the finishing touch. Their forwardline looked threatening at times, but Haryana’s defence remained resolute, snuffing out any real danger.

On the other hand, Haryana made several creative openings, thus demonstrating the efficiency that ultimately earned them three valuable points.

Railways’ second-half surge sinks West Bengal

West Bengal 1 (Priya Rui Das 24’)

lost to

Railways 2 (Mamta 49’, Jabamani Tudu 78’)

Railways came back strongly in the second half, not only to erase the lead West Bengal took in the first half, but added another through Jabamani Tudu to take home full points.   

West Bengal opened the scoring in the 24^th minute through Priya Rui Das. A precise grounded cross by Mousumi Murmu from the left edge of the box went past the Railways’ defence to the far post. As the Railways goalkeeper fumbled to grab the ball, Priya timed her run perfectly and executed a sliding finish into the bottom-right corner.

Railways equalised in the 49^th minute. A long-range shot forced West Bengal’s goalkeeper Manju into a full-stretch save. Attempting to punch the ball over the crossbar, Manju’s effort deflected off the bar, falling kindly for Mamta, who was unmarked in front of goal. Reacting instinctively, Mamta guided the ball into the net with a header.

The winning goal came in the 78th minute when Jabamani Tudu made the most off a set-piece opportunity. A corner delivered to the far post caught West Bengal’s defence napping as Tudu, left unmarked, calmly struck the ball with her left foot, sneaking past the near post to put Railways ahead.

Monday’s fixtures (Group A): Tamil Nadu vs Odisha (9 am); Jharkhand vs Manipur (2.30 pm).