Jharkhand, Orissa register easy wins in women`s football

Jamshedpur: Defending champions Orissa came from behind to trounce Tamil Nadu 3-1 while host Jharkhand

opened its account with a 4-2 win over Haryana on the inaugural day of the 34th National Games women’s football competition at JRD Tata Sports Complex here on Sunday. Orissa women in dominated the proceedings right from the beginning making repeated forays in the first half. Tamil Nadu`s forward M Sathya drew the first blood in the 34th minutes after she grabbed the ball from a mis-kick by Orissa goalkeeper Swarnamayee Samal and lobbed it over her to give her team the lead. Orissa, who defeated Manipur in finals of the last edition of the National Games in Guwahati, put their act together and bounced back into the match as Pinky managed to score the equalizer in the 46th minute. Pinky received an accurate pass from mid-fielder Manisha Panna from left flank and dodged the Tamil Nadu custodian P. Satyavani to score the equalizer. Orissa did not allow the rivals into their zones after both the teams locked 1-1 and Pinky received a mid-field pass and dribbled passed the Tamil Nadu’s defence line converting another goal within two minutes. After the breather, Orissa continued to attack the rival bastion but missed the target at least couple of times. However, Jilli Munda, who substituted the Orissa captain Sradhanjali Samantaray in the first half, scored the third goal after receiving a pass from Pinky near goalmounth in the 74th minute. In another Group A match, hosts Jharkhand defeated Haryana 4-2 at the same venue. 19-year-old striker Dular Marandi scored all the four goal (15th, 31st, 45th, 65th) for Jharkhand while Rajni and Minakshi scored a goal each for Haryana. Marandi, a Xth standard student from Hazaribagh, put the team into the lead after she received a cross from right winger Jaspina Hasse and neatly placed the ball in the 15th minute. Marandi, who impressed the selectors following her impressive performance at the Junior National at Jammu last month, scored the second goal off Captain Negi Mardi`s pass but Rajni fetched the reducer for Hayana just second before the lemon break. Even as both the team indulged in making forays, Marandi tore apart the rival defense and scored in the 45th but Minakshi converted a crosspiece from left flank to reduce the margin 3-2 in the 48th mintue. Marandi increased the tally in the 65th minute when mid-fielder Shanti Pariya send an measured pass near the goal mouth. PTI