Manipur off to resounding start in Sr Women's NFC
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 12 2024:
Reigning champions Manipur got off to a flying start with a 6-1 hammering of Maharashtra in the Final Round of the 29th Senior Women's National Football Championship for the Rajmata Jijabai Trophy 2024-25 in Group A at Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh on Thursday.
Naorem Priyangka Devi was the standout performer, recording a superb hat-trick that underscored her precision and composure in front of goal.
Manipur entered half time with a 2-0 advantage, setting the tone early when Dangmei Grace opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a composed finish into the bottom-left corner.
Priyangka Devi doubled the lead shortly thereafter, striking clinically to the bottom-right corner in the 14th minute.
The second half saw Priyangka Devi up the ante, netting twice more in the 63rd and 72nd minutes.
Her second goal was a spectacular effort to the top-left corner, while her hat-trick was completed with a thunderous right-footed shot from outside the box.
Maharashtra's lone goal came in the 57th minute when Sumaiyya Shaikh capitalised on a defensive lapse to score.
After conceding, Manipur regained their momentum, adding two goals through Hemam Shilky Devi in the 74th minute and Asem Roja Devi in the 82nd minute to seal the emphatic win.
Manipur will next play Odisha on December 14 .