AIFF Media Team

NARAINPUR, CHHATTISGARH: West Bengal qualified for the semi-finals of the 29th Senior Women's National Football Championship for the Rajmata Jijabai Trophy 2024-25 from Group B defeating Haryana 1-0 at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground on Thursday, December 19, 2024. 

Haryana, despite the defeat, are the other team that reached the semi-finals as the group toppers. Both Haryana and West Bengal, along with Railways, have accumulated nine points each. However, Haryana and West Bengal have a better goal difference when considering only the matches played between these three teams. 

Railways routed Punjab 10-0 in the other match of the group earlier in the day, but their rousing victory could not take them ahead in the championship. 

Group A winners Manipur will face Group B runners-up West Bengal and Group B winners Haryana will face Group A runners-up Odisha in the semi-finals on December 21, 2024.

Railways big win goes in vain

Railways 10 (Kunti Lakra 13', Diparnita Dey 17', 28', Kamala Devi 23', 39', 58', Supriya Routray 39', Mamta 56', Manisa Panna 45', 60') 
beat
Punjab 0 

Railways got a decisive 10-0 victory against Punjab in their final Group B match but it was not enough for them to make it to the semi-finals. Overall, Railways had a dominant run in the campaign with wins against Sikkim (3-2), West Bengal (2-1), and a loss against Haryana (3-0). Haryana led 7-0 at half time. 

Kunti Lakra opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a long-range shot assisted by Mamta's cross. In the 17th minute, Diparnita Dey extended the lead with a header, making it 2-0 for Railways. Six minutes later, Mamta delivered another cross from the right, allowing Kamala Devi to deftly flick the ball into the net from her right side. Diparnita found the back of the net again in the 28th minute, bringing Railways' tally to four goals.

Before halftime, Kamala Devi, Supriya Routray, and Manisa Panna added three more goals quickly, scoring in the 39th and 45th minutes, respectively. In the second half, Mamta scored in the 56th minute, and Kamala completed her hat-trick just two minutes later in the 58th minute. Manisa then netted her second goal of the match in the 60th minute, capping off a dominant performance for Railways.

West Bengal squeeze into semi-finals

Haryana 0
lost to 
West Bengal 1 (Sangita Basfore 44')

West Bengal earned their place in the semi-finals with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Haryana, marking their third win in the championship. Earlier, they won against Punjab (6-0), Sikkim (4-0) and lost one match against Railways (1-2).

The only goal of the match was scored by India international Sangita Basfore in the 44th minute. 

West Bengal's Mousumi Murmu took a corner kick, which fell to Haryana’s Samiksha. Sangita capitalised on the opportunity, striking the ball into the net past Haryana goalkeeper Shreya Hooda.

Semi- finals fixtures: 

Dec 21- Manipur vs West Bengal (9 am); Haryana vs Odisha (2.30 pm)