To face Orissa on Monday
GOLAGHAT (ASSAM): Sixteen-time winners Manipur and defending champions Orissa stormed into the final of the 20th Women’s National Championships, upending Delhi and Jharkhand in the two semifinals played simultaneously in Bokakhat and Golaghat on Saturday.
While free-scoring Manipur ripped first-time semifinalists Delhi to shreds with senior national team players notching six of the seven goals the North Eastern side plundered, Orissa rode on a fine brace from Jabamani Soren and one from Subha Prava to outshine Jharkhand 3-0.
The two winners will meet in the final on Monday here.
In the first semifinal, it all began in the 24th minute when Manipur captain and All India Football Federation Women’s Player of the Year Oinam Bembem Devi mercilessly broke Delhi’s resilience with a delectable left-footer that crashed into the top corner.
It was all Manipur after that with India forward Bala Devi netting a hat-trick either side of half time with national players Dangmei Grace, Parmeshwori Devi and rookie Ngonbi Devi also getting on the scoresheet.
Bala Devi was in terrific form, scoring her first with a low shot from just outside the box three minutes after Bembem had given the North Eastern side the lead.
National team colleague Dangmei joined the party with a 30-yard effort that swerved its way past the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner six minutes before half time.
There was no respite for Delhi after the break as Bala Devi netted her second 10 minutes into the second half. The lanky India striker capitalised on a goalkeeping misjudgment firing into an open net with the keeper charging out of her area.
The fifth goal came at a cost as a collision just outside the area saw India defender Ashalata Devi being felled awkwardly by Parmeshwori Devi, who went on to round the keeper for an easy tap in. Ashalata had to be substituted immediately.
Bala completed her hat-trick in the 82nd minute sending Parmeshwori’s perfect cross from the left into the net, while youngster Ngonbi completed the rout four minutes from full time. (Agencies)