AGENCIES, KOLLAM: Goa pipped Hockey Uttarakhand 1-0 in the 10th Senior Women’s National hockey tournament is being held at Kollam, Kerala, on Saturday.
Goan Hockey started the match on front door making their intentions clear with Manjita Mathkar e Vas making a clear run in the penalty area and was constantly giving good feed to the strikers. Goa’s Geeta could have opened the account in the first minute but the striker could not guide the ball into the goal.
Despite enjoying the lion’s share of possession in the first quarter, Goa missed chances but in the second quarter, Goa won a penalty corner and captain Manjita Mathkar ê Vas got the control of the ball and had a shot on goal which was stopped by Uttarakhand goalkeeper but couldn’t keep it away from Geeta Rathod who placed the ball in the goal giving Goa the lead.
In the final-quarter, Goa could have doubled the lead but the strikers missed open sitters after Manjita and Maheshwari combined well to move dangerously in the attacking third.
Pranjali Halankar who was having a great control of the ball dribbled past the defenders only to see her attempt miss the goal by inches. Goa got at least six penalty corners but run out of ideas to increase the tally.
This the first time in Goan hockey history that Goa qualified for the quarters of senior women tournament. Goa will now wait for the other pools to finish their league round to play their quarter-finals match.
