More importantly, the final which will be played tomorrow at Cooperage Stadium is between two Pune outfits – FC Pune City and United Poona SA.

The first semi-final between Bodyline SC and FC Pune City was nothing short of a roller-coaster ride. FC Pune City took the lead early in the match when Pooja More found the net from close range to give her side a vital lead. Pune City could have increased their lead later in the first-half through Senorita Noughpluh and Pooja More but a strong Bodyline’s defense somehow held their nerves.

At the stroke of the half-time, Championship’s top scorer Karen Pais levelled the score after a brilliant run from the left flank to register her nine goals in four matches. The score remained at 1-1 as the match was headed into the penalty shootout.

FC Pune City failed to utilize their advantage twice in the penalties but a superb save by Deepika Masurkar gave them one more chance to prevail and this time they did as the girls in orange booked their place in the Final.

The second semi-final between United Poona SA and Aadhar Pratishtan also went down to the wire as a lone goal from star forward Aishwarya Balapure proved enough for the Pune-based side to cruise into the Final.

United Poona SA defended for their lives in the last quarter of the game to deny Aadhar Pratishtan to take the match into the penalties. In the end, it was UPSA’s supreme defense which helped them go all the way to set up an exciting clash against FC Pune City at Cooperage, tomorrow.

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Here are the semi-final fixtures:

Bodyline SC (Mumbai) vs FC Pune City (Pune)

This clash has the potential to be the best match of the Championship. The qualities, determination and grit among both these sides are immense and this can turn this encounter into a thrilling semi-final. Bodyline SC is heading into the last four with an astonishing record of scoring 24 goals and conceding none in three games, passing a strong statement to the rest of the three teams.

Meanwhile, FC Pune City has been a bit cautious in their three group stage matches where they have only scored thrice and conceded one. Though previous match stats don’t matter when it comes to a knockout match, FC Pune City must take this battle to the field aggressively and fight as a unit to stop Bodyline’s supreme attack and organized defense.

FC Pune City needs to take care of Karen Pais who is currently the top scorer in the Championship with eight goals in only three matches, whereas, Senorita Noughpluh and Muriel Adam of FC Pune City might cause problems for the Bodyline’s backline. Irrespective of the result, this semi-final clash is surely going down the wire.

Aadhar Pratishtan (Mumbai) vs United Poona SA (Pune)

Another ‘Mumbai vs Pune‘ clash in the semis. While Aadhar Pratishtan has performed brilliantly in the group stage, the visitors United Poona SA has been equally impressive so far. Though the Pune outfit lost 7-0 against Bodyline SC, the rest of their two games turned out to be a brilliant watch.

This match might turn out to be the most unpredictive clash of the Championship. Aadhar Pratishtan’s impressive team performance will be up against one of the most impressive player of the Championship, a side riding on Aishwarya Balapure’s brilliance. She completely changed the course of the match on her feet against Poddar International and Rahul FC and it might come back to haunt Aadhar Pratishtan.

On the other end, the brilliant link-up between Jyotika Singh, Priya Tiwari and Malaika Chauhan of Aadhar Pratishtan will be hoping to cause serious threats against a side who has conceded nine goals in three group matches. An exciting semi-final awaits tomorrow.

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Group A:

The Group A kicked off on 23rd June at Cooperage when United Poona SA met Poddar International in the opening match of the Tournament. UPSA’s Aishwarya Balapure left no stone unturned as she helped her side snatch all three points in a 3-2 victory. She scored twice and assisted the other goal to start UPSA campaign on a winning note. The very next day, Mumbai’s Bodyline SC caused havoc when they overcame United Poona SA 7-0, courtesy of Karen Pais’ sublime hat-trick.

After suffering a narrow defeat in the first match, Poddar International displayed a brilliant performance to sink Rahul FC 5-0 after Pranali Chauhan emulated Karen Pais’ to score a hat-trick for her side. Continuing from where they had left in the first match, Bodyline registered an identical 7-0 win against Poddar International to book their place in the last four with a game to play.

Aishwarya Balapure also continued her spectacular form as she finally managed to score a hat-trick when United Poona SA run riot against Rahul FC in a comfortable 7-0 win. The win also booked UPSA’s berth in the last four along with Bodyline SC.

Bodyline completed their group stage campaign with another staggering performance when they trounced Rahul FC 10-0 as Karen Pais scored four goals to end up as Group A top goal-scorer with eight goals in three games.

WIFA Women’s Championship Group A standings

 Group B:

Group B didn’t saw as many goals as in the first. This turned out to be more of an organized and defensive unit. Group B went underway on 28th June when Aadhar Pratishtan faced FC Pune City. Jyotika Singh scored the decisive goal in the 55th minute to seal the victory for the Mumbai-based side at Cooperage.

In the second match of the day, a goal each from Mrunal Khot and Aishwarya Havaldar proved enough for KSA Women’s FC as they registered a narrow 2-0 victory over Tirpude SC. On matchday two, Tirpude SC suffered another loss when they went down 2-0 against Aadhar Pratishtan, courtesy of Priya Tiwari and Malaika Chauhan’s strike in the second-half.

FC Pune City fought back after losing against Aadhar Pratishtan when an injury time goal by Muriel Adam helped the Pune outfit to snatch all three points against KSA Women’s FC. On the last matchday, FC Pune City confirmed their place in the last four with a 2-0 win over Tirpude SC, thanks to Senorita Noughpluh’s twin strikes.

Aadhar Pratishtan finished their Group stage campaign as the winners with FC Pune City finishing as the runner-up.

Semi-finals fixtures: Bodyline SC (Mumbai) vs FC Pune City (Pune) and Aadhar Pratishtan (Mumbai) vs United Poona SA (Pune).

WIFA Women’s Championship Group B standings

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