PANAJI
Goa were left stunned after Rajni Bala, Neha, Santosh, and Puja’s strike ensured that Haryana won 1-4 in the Group B group match of the National Games Football Women’s played, at Tilak Maidan, Vasco.
In the third minute, Arpita Yeshwant made a solo run from the right flank and put a good cross however there was no Goa player in the box to make use of that cross. Five minutes later, Goa earned a corner. Michel Castanha went for a curling swing in the box and it was a complete howler from the Haryana goalkeeper Anshika as she failed to clear the ball which gave Goa the early lead.
In the 14th minute, the Haryana goalkeeper again made a big mistake by coming out from the box but however, it was managed by the Goa defenders.
After a drinks break, Haryana regrouped and in the 45th minute, Rajni Bala’s strike found the bottom side of the goal. Within a blink of an eye, it was Neha who calmly placed the ball in the goal from a cutback pass of Santosh. Haryana took the lead just before the halftime whistle.
In the second half, Goa tried to get back into the game. Whereas for Haryana they kept on playing counterattack football. And on the 58th minute, Haryana was awarded a penalty as the ball hit the hands of a Goa defender and Santosh didn’t fail to score from the spot kick.
Goa slowly got lost in the game by losing ball possession and in the added time the Goa goalkeeper Josline failed to clear a back pass which led to the ball falling to Puja’s feet who didn’t fail to tap in the ball.
In the Group B fixture, Goa will face Odisha on October 30 at Vasco.
