Jharkhand, Haryana ease into semis

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 26

Jharkhand and Haryana made their way into the semifinals of the Hero Junior Girls’ National Football Championship with convincing wins over last year’s finalists Manipur and Tamil Nadu respectively at the Rajarshi Shahu Stadium in Kolhapur, Maharashtra,  on Friday. 

Sumati Kumar continued her free-scoring run, grabbing a brace in Jharkhand’s 4-0 triumph against Manipur, while Haryana captain Raveena played a starring role in her team’s 4-0 win over Tamil Nadu.

Sumati propels Jharkhand

Jharkhand, who came into the quarterfinal on the back of scoring 31 goals in their two group stage games, got the dream start against three-time champions Manipur as they opened the scoring in the second minute through Kuwari Indwar. 

The fans were still settling into their seats as Kuwari immaculately controlled a low cross from the left flank before shooting it past the Manipur goalkeeper.

The match turned into an open encounter with Manipur fashioning chances through L Kipgen and Shilky Devi midway through the first half, but Jharkhand custodian Sandhya Toppo was up to the task. 

Manipur continued their search for the equaliser but the side fall further behind as Sumati Kumari scored her 14th goal of the tournament. In the 29th minute, captain Astam Oraon intercepted a ball in the middle of the park and played in Sumati, who slammed an unstoppable shot in the bottom corner. 

At the stroke of half time, Manipur were inches away from scoring but Priyangka Devi’s free-kick hit the crossbar. Three minutes into the second half, Oraon made it 3-0 for Jharkhand with a viciously swerving shot from long range that left the Manipur custodian with no chance. 

Manipur desperately searched for a foothold but could not get past centre-halves Saraswati Kri and Sudha Tirkey. In the 87th minute, Sumati put the final nail in the coffin with another composed finish as she rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home to complete a 4-0 win.

Raveena leads from the front 

Contrary to the first quarterfinal, both Haryana and Tamil Nadu failed to score in the first quarter despite creating some opportunities. 

Both goalkeepers were tested but Tamil Nadu custodian Dhana Lakshmi looked confident with her handling and communication.

However, she could do little in the 31st minute as Haryana opened the scoring through Bali as a cross from the right wing sailed over the defenders and keeper to nestle into the back of the net. 

Just two minutes later, Haryana came close to doubling their lead as skipper Raveena fizzed in a delightful cross which evaded the onrushing strikers.

With the first half coming to a close, Tamil Nadu had two great chances to equalise. In the 35th minute, Priyadharshini S jinked past two defenders and was set to shoot but was denied by a last-ditch sliding challenge. Ten minutes later, Mariyammal S whipped in a free-kick on target from the right, but Haryana keeper Anshika dived across and pushed the ball onto the post before the defence scrambled it clear.

Haryana doubled their lead in the 49th minute with a classic set piece as Mamta headed the ball home first-time from a corner kick. 

They could have added a couple in the next six minutes as Raveena was denied in a one-on-one situation and then put her shot wide from eight yards. However, the skipper was not to be denied in the 64th minute as she raced into the box from the right and placed the ball into the far corner to make it 3-0. 

In the first minute of added time, she completed her hat-trick with a deft finish, completing a 4-0 win for Haryana.

On Saturday, Odisha will lock horns with an impressive Himachal Pradesh, while Gujarat will square off with Mizoram.