Maharashtra fall short to Railways in final group game of Senior Womens NFC, final round hopes still alive

by Chittu Shetty November 30, 2023

Maharashtra girls suffered a 0-2 loss in the final group game against Railways, despite the loss, the team is still well positioned to qualify for the final round of Senior Womens NFC

In a thrilling clash at the 28th Senior Women’s National Football Championship, Maharashtra faced Railways in a contest of two unbeaten teams.

Early Setback: Railways took an early lead as Jabamani Tudu capitalized on an unguarded moment during a corner kick, putting Maharashtra on the defensive. Despite facing adversity, Maharashtra’s goalkeeper Payal Basude exhibited exceptional skills, making crucial saves to deny Railways an early dominance.

Promising Attacks: Maharashtra, not to be outdone, launched promising attacks. Around the half-hour mark, they came close to equalizing, but the referee intervened, calling a foul after a collision with the Railways goalkeeper. Undeterred, Maharashtra continued to press forward, creating opportunities that unfortunately did not find the back of the net.

Railways Doubles Lead: Railways extended their lead with Anju heading home the second goal, putting Maharashtra at a 2-0 disadvantage as they headed into halftime.

Second-Half Determination: The second half saw Maharashtra regrouping and showing determination to mount a comeback. Nishka Parkash and Aishwarya combined effectively on the left, creating attacking opportunities, but Railways defenders thwarted the attempts.

Maharashtra’s determination remained evident as they pressed forward. Captain Aishwarya Bhonde connected with Samrudhi in attack, releasing the ball for Sakshi Hiwale, who found herself through on goal. However, Railways goalkeeper Bishnu Mahanta displayed agility, coming off her line to block the shot.

Full-Time Verdict: Despite Maharashtra’s spirited effort, Railways maintained their lead, securing a 2-0 victory at full time. The loss, however, does not diminish Maharashtra’s overall standing in the tournament. With three wins in the group stage and an impressive goal difference of 31, Maharashtra remains a formidable contender for the final rounds. The team’s resilience and exceptional performance in the earlier matches position them as one of the top 3 runners-up among 6 groups, keeping their journey in the championship alive.

As Maharashtra prepares for their next challenge, the team and its supporters remain optimistic about the remaining fixtures in the Senior Women’s National Football Championship.

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