Women’s national football tourney: Manipur drubs Jharkhand 7-0, Sikkim holds Maharashtra 1-1
GUWAHATI: Manipur showcased their prowess with a commanding 7-0 victory over Jharkhand in the inaugural Group B match of the 28th Senior Women's National Football Championship for the Rajmata Jijabai Trophy Final Round.
The match took place at the AIFF National Centre of Excellence in Kolkata on Thursday (May 02).
Led by India international Dangmei Grace, Manipur secured the top spot in Group B, while the day's other group matches - Maharashtra vs. Sikkim and Odisha vs. Haryana - ended in 1-1 draws.
Manipur's Dominance:
Manipur secured a comfortable win against Jharkhand, triumphing 7-0.
Dangmei Grace, a standout performer for Manipur, contributed two goals and two assists.
Grace's well-delivered corner kick in the 19th minute found an unmarked Sibani Devi, who side-footed the ball into the net for the opening goal.
In the 36th minute, Grace capitalized on a loose ball and capitalized with a first-time shot past Jharkhand goalkeeper Jyotsna Bara.
Manipur further solidified their lead with three goals right before halftime. Grace assisted in two of these goals, while skipper Bala Devi set up another.
In the second half, substitutes Arina Devi and Daya Devi added two more goals to seal Manipur's victory.
Sikkim's Resilience:
In another fixture at the Kishore Bharati Stadium, Maharashtra and Sikkim played out a hard-fought 1-1 draw.
Aishwarya Jagtap put Maharashtra ahead in the 21st minute with a skilful finish.
Sikkim fought back and secured an equalizer in the 81st minute through Muskan Subba's powerful strike from distance.
Despite Maharashtra's early lead, Sikkim's determination ensured they earned a valuable point from the match.