Manipur, Tamil Nadu score easy wins

Chandigarh, Jul 19 (UNI) Defending champions Manipur continued their winning form as they routed Haryana 9-0 for their second successive victory in the Group I quarter-final league in the third Junior Girls Under-17 Football Championship at the Punjab Engineering College ground here today.

They have virtually ensured themselves a berth in the semi-final with six points from two encounters. Y Kamala Devi (35th, 36th, 73rd), M Mandakini Devi (25th, 55th, 68th), N Montesori Chanu (65th), Chan Chan Chanu (15th) and N Binodini Devi (33rd) led the Manipur onslaught against Haryana who were content to defending their goal throughout the match.

Haryana have only one point from two encounters after playing a one-one draw against Punjab. Haryana next meet Tamil Nadu to finally decide the qualifiers.

Tamil Nadu are emerging the second qualifiers for semi-final from Group I league as they outplayed Punjab by 4-0. Punjab suffered their first defeat and it was Tamil Nadu's first victory.

Contrary to expectations, Punjab surrendered meekly to Tamil Nadu.

Punjab had two good chances to score but on both occasions Gurpreet shot wide. Punjab contained Tamil Nadu to goalless before their goal fell in the 30th minute when R Radhika booted home. Maintaining pressure M Teyanthi made it 2-0 in the 36th minute. Radhika (55th) and R Kalpana (65th) contributed one goal each to virtually end Punjab's hopes for a semi-final berth.

Tomorrow's fixtures: Orissa vs UP and Tripura vs West Bengal at 1630 hrs at PEC grounds.

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