Sub-Junior Girls National Football Championship: Manipur romp to final with a 7-2 win over Maharashtra

by Chittu Shetty November 5, 2017

After a determined 1st half from Maharashtra, defensive lapses in the 2nd half allowed Manipur to score 4 in the space of 12 minutes to settle the game

Picture Credit :: Shankar Khangembam

After edging Delhi 2-1 with ten women on field, Maharashtra seemed to continue on their form as they took an early lead when Sai Sankhe found the net in the 14^th minute. However Manipur hit back soon and levelled the score four minutes later through S Linda. Soon Manipur surge to a lead as S Linda doubled her tally for the game. However Janvi brought Maharashtra back on level terms soon as both sides entered the break at 2-2.

Maharashtra seemed to be a match for Manipur as they looked on par with the North-eastern favourites. However in the second half, Maharashtra started out slow and eventually paid the price for it as Manipur hit the ground running quickly taking advantage of Maharashtra’s defensive lapses. Hemam Silky struck within two minutes of restart to make it 3-2 before S Linda completed her hat-trick three minutes later to make it 4-2. Soon Hemam doubled her own tally with a controlled shot from edge of the box to make it 5-2. Four minutes later Hemam was at it again as she completed her Hat-trick with the score reading 6-2 at the hour mark.

The game was already out of reach but Manipur continued to dominate the game and struck a seventh in 79^th minute as Naorem Priyanka got on to score sheet. Manipur cruised into the final of the championship where they will face Chandigarh who had outclassed Orissa 3-0 in the other semi-final. Vishval struck a brace while Anju struck a late header to finish off the game comfortably.

Semi-Final 1: Manipur 7 (S Linda 18’, 30’, 50’, Hemam Silky 47’, 55’, 59’, Naorem Priyanka 79’) – 2 Maharashtra (Sai Sanke 14’, Janvi)

Semi-Final 2: Orissa 0 – 3 Chandigarh (Vishval 12’, 50’, Anju)

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