Bala, Asem star in Manipur's 9-2 thrashing of Sikkim
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 04 2024:
Ngangom Bala Devi hit five goals and Asem Roja Devi scored a hat-trick to power Manipur to a 9-2 drubbing of Sikkim in their second Group B match in the 28th Senior Women's National Football Championship for Rajmata Jijabai Trophy 2023-24 on Saturday at Kishore Bharati Stadium in Kolkata.
This was the state women squad's second straight win.
Bala put Manipur in front in the 18th minute after capitalising on a well-timed pass from Roja.
Bala then made it 2-0 in the 28th minute when a precise through ball dished out by Grace had set Bala on her way to the opposition box, allowing her to make a sublime finish for her second goal.
After the break, Manipur's attacking prowess was on full display, with Bala and Roja unleashing incredible skills to slice open the Sikkim defence at will and score.
Bala upped the ante as soon as the second half started, scoring a quickfire double in the space of one minute.
With another assist by Grace, Bala scored her third goal in the 48th minute before making it 4-0 in the 49th minute.
Then Roja put the state squad 5-0 up in the 53rd minute before Bala completed her five-goal blitz after collecting her fifth goal in the 57th minute.
Sikkim reduced the arrears with two goals in quick succession, with Samjana Rai scoring in the 71st minute and Simran Gurung finding their second goal in the 72nd minute.
Manipur found their momentum back as Roja, assisted by Daya, netted her second and team's seventh goal in the 77th minute, and Daya did her bit with an 84th-minute goal before Roja rounded off the scoring in the 88th minute as Manipur strolled to a second straight victory in dominant fashion.
The state women will next play Maharashtra on Monday, May 6, 2024 .