TN girls wrest title from Orissa

Gurgaon, Nov 19 (UNI) Tamil Nadu upset the apple cart of holders Orissa by shocking them with a 2-1 margin in the action-packed final of the 7th Girls Junior National Football Championship which was hosted by Haryana Football Association at the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex in Gurgaon today.

Trailing by two goals, the holders went all out and mounted relentless pressure in their efforts to bounce back into the game on crossing over. However, they frittered away a couple of good opportunties as they failed to convert their territorial supremacy into goals except on one occasion.

The Tamil Nadu goal survived the Orissa pressurer. Orissa were also unlucky as on one occasion, a powerwful shot by a Orissa striker struck the pole and the ball bounced back into the play. On other occasions, the Orissa strikers missed the goal by narrow margin.

Earlier, Tamil Nadu drew the first blood in the 26th minute when C Chitranciyal beat the Orissa custodian with a measured lob from 35 yards.

The Tamil Nadu girls doubled the lead in the 41st minute as R Kalpana's full-blooded drive from 30 yards left the Orissa defence stranded.

In the second half, Orissa reorganised their game and attacked their rivals goal with redoubled vigour. After wasting a number of opportunities to score, Orissa reduced the margin in the 73rd minute through Lochna Munda whose shot went past the TN custodian after getting a minus inside the box.

Indian Football Association referee Anamika cautioned Lochna Munda in the 33rd minute for rough play.

Gurgaon Municipal Commissioner Rajiv Sharma was the chief guest and distributed the prizes.

UNI XC JN MMS1944