A football match between Maharashtra and West Bengal in progress during 9th Junior National Football Championship at PEC ground in Chandigarh.
With this well-deserved victory, Manipur emerged group B leaders with an all-win record. It was their third successive win and collected nine full points while Orissa finished runners-up with six points with two victories and one defeat. In another inconsequential group B fixture, West Bengal got the better of Maharashtra by 3-1 with Putta Karmakar performing a fine hat-trick in Bengal's win. West Bengal completed their quarter-final league programme with three points from one win and two defeats. Maharashtra finished at the bottom without any point.
Manipur and Orissa joined Haryana and Sikkim in semi-finals. After a day's rest on Tuesday, Manipur are pitted against Group A runners-up Sikkim at 7 a.m. and Group A winners Haryana will face Orissa in the second semi-final at 4 p.m. According to Chandigarh Football Association secretary, the semi-finals and final will be played at the Sector 17 Football Stadium. Rated as the 'best match' of the tournament so far, Orissa and Manipur dished out top class football to enthrall the spectators. A sizable number of Manipur supporters turned up at the venue to cheer up their team. They clapped for every save by the goalkeeper O Roshini Devi or the attack by the Manipur strikers. Matching in all departments of the game, both teams did initial probings before Manipur drew the first blood in the 24th minute.
A cross from the right flank was punched by Orissa goalkeeper Sita Sharma. The ball travelled to Y Premi Devi who scored in a flash to gladden the hearts of the Manipur supporters.
On crossing over, Orissa were able to neutralise the lead in the 47th minute. An eye-pleasing electrifying move between Deogi Murmu and Jabamani Soren saw the last named getting the better of a defender before beating advancing goalkeeper O Roshini Devi. Manipur defender H Bijaya Devi tried to make a goalline save in vain. Manipur went all out and earned a corner in the 62nd minute. Kamala Devi took the corner and Ph Bina Devi caught the Orissa defence on the wrong foot with a well-directed shot. Manipur gained a sweet revenge against Orissa who had beaten them in the final last year. At the adjacent ground, West Bengal beat Maharashtra by 3-1. For Bengal Puta Karmakar held the spotlight by scoring in the 20th, 47th and 73rd minutes and in the process performed a three-in-a-row feat. For Maharashtra Ameeta netted the lone goal in the 80+3 minutes.
Semifinals on Wednesday: Manipur vs Sikkim (7 a.m.) and Haryana vs Orissa ( 4 p.m.) at Sector 17 Football Stadium.