Orissa stun Manipur 1-0 to take crown

Chandigarh, July 27 (UNI) Left winger Rashmita Podh scored in the first half as Orissa stun holders Manipur 1-0 to emerge champions at the third Junior Girls Under-17 National Football Championship which concluded here this evening.

In an edge-of-the-seat final, Orissa also gained a sweet revenge over Manipur who had beaten them in the final in the second edition of the championship.

The all-important goal came in the 44th minute when Orissa were awarded a free kick in the middle. Their captain Sradhanjali Sahoo send the ball to a well-positioned Rashmita Podh.

As Manipur goalkeeper S Santhoi Devi charged to collect it, Rashmita guided the ball into the rival goal to fox the Manipur defence and their supporters who had turned up in a large number to cheer them.

However, the Orissa's victory would have not been possible without the uncanny anticipation and fine reflexes under the bar by Ahlaya Munda who saved more than half a dozen saves.

Manipur were also unlucky as twice the crosspiece came in their way and also on a number of occasions the ball travelled across the Orissa goal by missing the target with narrow margins.

The Orissa defenders, specially Sradhanjali Sahoo was a cool customer. She put up a stonewall defence.

Manipur captain M Bem-Bem Devi was not allowed enough room to engineering goal-bearing moves. Orissa applied man-to-man defence.

They launched counter-attack wheneven the opportunity came their way.

In one such move in the 44th minute, Orissa counter-attacked.

They were awarded a free kick and Sradhanjali floated the ball to well-placed left winger Rashmita Podh. As Manipur goalkeeper S Sanatohi Devi advanced to collect it, Rashmita trapped it and gave the ball direction into the goal. The Orissa players rushed to congratulate each other in jubilation.

Stunned by the reverses, Manipur became desperate to restore parity. They mounted relentless pressure and within a span of three minutes they had three golden chances to neutralise the lead.

However, luck deserted Manipur.

Twice Y Kamala Devi, the leading goal scorer of the tournament, tried to score but her shots travelled across the Orissa goal, missing the target by narrow margins in the 72nd and 75th minutes.

In the 73rd minute, N Chan Chan Devi's blazing shot hit the crosspiece and the ball sailed over the bar.

Earlier, Orissa had an opportunity to double the score in the 63rd minute. Srimote Samal sent a centre and Jhele Munda's shot hit the poll and the ball travelled to Rashmita Podh's try went out. She looked totally exhausted and she was replaced in the 64th minute by Gomate Burh.

Y Kamala Devi of Manipur, Santoseni Oram, Ahalya Munda and Rashmita Podh were adjudged the best players of the tournament.

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