Rajmata Jijabai Trophy: Defending champions Manipur set to face Odisha in the final showdown
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Narainpur, Dec 21 (NationPress) Manipur and Odisha have successfully earned their spots in the finals of the 29th Senior Women’s National Football Championship for the Rajmata Jijabai Trophy 2024-25, taking place at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground on Saturday. The two teams will face off on Monday with the aspiration of securing the highly sought-after trophy.
In the semifinals, Manipur, a formidable force with 22 titles under their belt, triumphed over West Bengal with a score of 3-0, while Odisha managed to score once in each half, defeating last year’s runners-up, Haryana, 2-0. This marks the seventh appearance for Odisha in the finals.
With a squad full of seasoned internationals, Manipur was seen as the clear favorite but took time to find their rhythm as West Bengal’s defensive strategies kept them at bay until half-time.
However, the 22-time champions broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute when Dangmei Grace opened the scoring for Manipur with a stunning long ball from the midfield. Grace's impressive run left two Bengal defenders trailing as she advanced into the box to score past goalkeeper Manju with a powerful right-footed shot.
While Manju performed admirably in the first half, she struggled with long-range shots in the second half. Priyangka Devi quickly followed up with a second goal just minutes later from around 25 yards, unleashing a dipping drive that left Manju with no chance.
Manipur sealed their victory with another goal in the 78th minute as Shilky Devi executed a quick turn outside the box, striking the ball that bounced in the box and eluded the grasp of the diving goalkeeper.
On the other hand, Odisha's captain and striker Pyari Xaxa was instrumental in her team's success, netting both goals in their semifinal match. The second semifinal saw Odisha take on Haryana with a thrilling start, showcasing aggressive attacks from both squads.
India international Shreya Hooda, playing for Odisha, made several crucial saves that kept the game scoreless initially. However, in the 10th minute, Pyari showcased her skill by dribbling past multiple defenders to give Odisha an early lead, a remarkable individual performance by the India International.
In the second half, Haryana attempted to push forward mostly through the wings but failed to capitalize on their opportunities. Odisha’s goalkeeper, Sasmita Parida, emerged as a key player on Saturday, staving off numerous attacks from Haryana during the second half.
Pyari sealed the match in the 88th minute when her free-kick from the right slipped through Hooda’s fingers, rolling over the line and effectively ending Haryana’s hopes of reaching the finals for a second consecutive year.
