RAIA: Putting up a gritty display, Odisha women shocked football powerhouse West Bengal with a narrow but deserving 5-4 victory vaia tie-breaker to storm into the final at the Tilak Maidan Stadium, Vasco, on Friday.
After regulation time ended in a goalless stalemate, the scores remained level at 3-3 after the tie-breaker, Odisha held their nerve in the sudden death to emerge victorious. But for a brief spell towards the end of the first half, Odisha dominated play, and only some wayward shooting and two brilliant saves by Bengal keeper Manju denied them a better scoreline.
Bengal did create several chances towards the end of the first half and midway into the second half, but their prodigality in front of the rival goal let them down. In the tie-breaker, Pyari Xaxa, S Lynda Kom, Grace Haunhar, Supriya Routray and Jabamani Tudu scored for Odisha while Ratna Halder, Sumitra Marandi, Ngangom Devi and Sulanjana Raul converted their shots for West Bengal.
Manipur women staged a remarkable comeback to get past a gritty Haryana to enter the final at Tilak Maidan Stadium, Vasco. Manipur won 4-3 on aggregate via the tie-breaker after regulation time ended 1-1. In the tie-breaker, Wangkhem Linthoingambi, Phanjoubam Nirmala and Nongmeikapam Sibani scored for Manipur while only Santosh and Ritu were successful with their attempts for Haryana.
Manipur will take on Odisha in the final slated for Sunday afternoon. Haryana will take on West Bengal in the bronze medal match to be played on Sunday morning.
