Team Herald
MARGAO: Goa went down fighting against a formidable Odisha 1-2 in the quarter-finals of the Under-18 Junior National Football Championship for Girls organized by Goa Football Association in Association with All India Football Federation at Rosary Sports Complex, Navelim, on Thursday.
Goa entered the match in a must-win situation and started off really well. They took the lead early in the 11th minute with Anline S. Fernandes finding the back of the net.
The Odisha side, one of the strongest contenders for the championship did not let the early goal or the good home crowd support deter their spirits. Odisha side, boasting of 10 India International players readily regrouped and started taking control of the match with a strong midfield play by Laxmi Munda, Arati Sethi and Anima Malik.
International Sasmita Behera scored the equalizer just seven minutes later in the 18th minute and Odisha did not look back from this point onwards.
Goa just could not get past the defence set by Eva Panna, Janaki Murmu, Jabamani Tudu and Goalkeeper Sanjukta Tirkey, all Internationals who displayed a good sense of poise, composure and quickness in defense.
Goan star forward, Velanie Fernandes was again marked really well and was given no room to make any serious moves by the Odisha defense.
There were times when 2 to 3 defenders were sent on her to thwart any moves. Lifa Gama, Cianna Lobo and Susmita Yadav all worked tirelessly to find the equalizer. Against the run of play, Odisha played a quick counter attack move and Swarna Priya Nayak scored a fine goal in the 36th minute to give Odisha a 2-1 lead going into the half-time break.
The second half saw a very determined Goa side striving hard to find the equalizer but the Odisha defense again stood rock solid. Goa also wasted numerous goal scoring opportunities to equalize the match, which would most likely put a lot of pressure on Odisha for the remainder of the match.
Odisha having won two matches already in the quarter-finals league now qualify for the semi-finals. Goa bow out having lost both their opening matches.
In another match, Delhi scored 7-4 victory over Mizoram to win their second match of the quarter-finals league and progress into the semi-finals at panchayat ground, Raia.
For Delhi Mariya Tehreen Khan (7’, 33’, 45+1’, 65’), Anushka Samuel (25’, 87’) and Chetna Dhadwal (40’) while Mizoram netted through B. Vanlalhriattiri (50’, 73’), Lalhmingchhuanpuii (68’) and Lalchhanhimi (85’).
