Bem-Bem's brace in Manipur's 4-0 win over Triprua

Chandigarh, July 24 (UNI) Defending champions Manipur thrashed Tripura 4-0 in their semi final encounter to storm into the final of the third Junior Girls Under-17 Football Championship, here today.

Indian and Manipur captain M Bem-Bem Devi, also National skipper, scored a brace, while N Chanchan and I Itabala Devi netted one goal apiece.

Fearing an onslaught from the defending champs, Tripura resorted to defensive tactics to thwart the Manipuri girls.

Kalpana Debbarma, Shuba Rani Debbarma, Shymali Debbarma and Namita Debbarma put up good a defence against the feared Manipur strikers Bem-Bem, M Mandakini Devi, N Montesori Chanu and Y Kamala Devi, for sometime Devi, Bem-Bem Devi, who had represented Indian Under-17 team in the AFC Cup in Malaysia and struggled in the tournament so far, regained her form today.

In the first 10 minutes, Bem-Bem tested the Tripura goal with two good tries. On the first occasion, her sizzling shot from the left flank hit the crossbar and later her powerful long ranger was smartly collected by Tripura goalkeeper Soma Ghose who was substituted bv Amita Sarkar in the second session.

Manipur had a good chance to forge ahead in the 14th minute. Y Kamala Devi sent an accurate centre. Tripura goalkeeper Soma Ghosh could partially cleared the ball which went to N Chanchan Chanu who failed find the target.

Bem-Bem could not be denied a goal in the 22nd minute. Trapping a stray pass, she unleashed a thundering straight shot which caught the Tripura goalkeeper Soma Ghose on the wrong foot. Manipur increased the margin in the 22nd minute when N Chanchan Chanu volleyed over the advancing Tripura goalkeeper.

The Manipur skipper got her second goal in the 48th minute.

I Itabala Devi then rounded off the tally for the winners, scoring from a long range shot in the 71st minute.

Manipur will await the winners of the second semi-final to be played between last year's runners-up Orissa and Haryana.

Teams. Manipur: S Sanathoi Devi, G Radharani Devi (W Radharani Devi),I Itabala Devi, T Ranjita Devi, Y Kherodarani Devi, M Bem-Bem Devi (captain), H Bijeta Devi ( T Nungshitombi Devi), Y Kamala Devi, N Chan-Chan Chanu (E Bindyarani Devi), M Mandakini Devi and N Montesori Chaun.

Tripura: Soma Gosh (Amita Sarkar), Namita Das (captain), Kalpana Debbarma, Rupati Debbarma, Swarna Rani Debbarma, Bhyaga Laxmi Debbarma, Anita Debbarma, Shuba Rani Debbarma, Gaya Rani Debbarma, Shyamali Debbarma, Namita Debbarma.

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