AIFF Media Team
NARAINPUR, CHHATTISGARH: Defending champions Manipur kicked off their journey with a win in the Final Round of the 29th Senior Women's National Football Championship for Rajmata Jijabai Trophy 2024-25 in Group A, at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground on Wednesday, December 12, 2024.
In the other match of Group A, Odisha strengthened their position with the second consecutive win when they defeated Jharkhand 4-0 after leading by a goal at half-time.
While Odisha now have six points from two matches, Jharkhand are stuck at three points on the virtue of their win over Tamil Nadu.
Naorem Priyangka Devi steals the spotlight
Maharashtra 1 (Sumaiyya Shaikh 57’)
lost to
Manipur 6 (Dangmei Grace 10’, Naorem Priyangka Devi 14’ 63’ 72’, Hemam Shilky Devi 74’, Asem Roja Devi 82’)
In an emphatic display of attacking football, Manipur outclassed Maharashtra 6-1. The encounter showcased Manipur’s tactical superiority and relentless attacking prowess, leaving Maharashtra with no answers.
Naorem Priyangka Devi played a stellar role in Manipur’s triumph with a fine hat-trick. The winners led 2-0 at half time.
Manipur wasted no time asserting themselves, with their striker Dangmei Grace opening the scoring in the 10th minute. The forward calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner.
Priyangka Devi then netted a brilliant hat-trick that showcased her clinical finishing and sharp instincts. She opened her tally with a composed strike to the bottom right corner in the 14th minute and added a second with a dazzling strike to the top left corner later in the 63rd minute. She completed her treble in the 72nd minute with a thunderous right-footed shot from outside of the box.
The second half began with the only goal for Maharashtra in the 57th minute when Sumaiyya Shaikh capitalised on a defensive error and scored with a tap-in.
Manipur continued to pile on the pressure, adding two more goals in the 74th and 82nd minutes by Hemam Shilky Devi and Asem Roja Devi, respectively, to round off a dominant performance.
Odisha prove too good for Jharkhand
Odisha 4 (Subhadra Sahoo 10’, Munica Minz 51’, Sumitra Hembram 59’, Manisha Naik 80’)
beat
Jharkhand 0
In a match that was expected to play a crucial role in identifying the semi-final qualifiers from the group, Odisha dominated their rivals after taking an early lead that set the tone of the encounter.
Odisha’s breakthrough came in the 10th minute, courtesy of Subhadra Sahoo, who showcased her poaching instincts with a perfectly timed sliding tap-in. The goal was set up brilliantly by Pyari Xaxa, who made a surging run down the right flank before delivering a precise grounded cross into the box.
The second goal came when Munica Minz found the net in the 51st minute. A well-taken free-kick was nearly intercepted by the Jharkhand goalkeeper Malti Kumari, but Munica chested it down to guide the ball over the line.
Midfielder Sumitra Hembram, in the 59th minute, capitalised on a faulty clearance by the Jharkhand defence. Picking up the loose ball just outside the box, Sumitra wasted no time unleashing a precise shot that curled into the bottom left corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
In the 80th minute, forward Manisha Naik showcased her composure and skill in a one-on-one situation against the goalkeeper. Manisha dribbled past the advancing keeper with ease before calmly slotting the ball into the net for the fourth goal.
Friday’s fixtures (Group B): Railways vs Haryana (9 am); Sikkim vs Punjab (2.30 pm).
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