THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
Karnataka blanked Chandigarh 2-0 in Group B League of Junior National Under 18 Girl's Football Championship at Rosary Ground, Navelim on Monday. Karnataka led 1-0 at the breather.
Both the teams started the game on aggressive note. However it was Karnataka who broke the deadlock in the 13th minute when rival striker Lerissa Sweety D'Silva capitalized the rival defence lapses and slotted past the rival goalkeeper with a snap shot.Stung by that setback, Chandigarh regrouped quickly and twice came to scoring but their forwards failed to get past the rival rearguard.
Crossing over, Karnataka continued to enjoy the better share of exchanges and in the 53rd minute, Trupti Gangamma sealed the rival fate with a blistering shot down by 0-2, Chandigarh tried to regroup but failed to penetrate into the rival box.
In a Group C match, at Raia Panchayat Ground, riding on a fine brace by striker Jyoti Mehra Maharashtra downed Sikkim 2-0. Maharashtra led 1-0 at the break.
Maharashtra were a better side and troubled the rival defence with well orchestrated raids. Persistent forays paid off the dividends when Jyoti Mehra bulged the net in the 11th minute. Buoyed by the lead, Maharashtra upped the ante and fired a couple of shots against the rival citadel. Smiriti Girish marshalled the waist line with aplomb. She kept her forwards busy with stream of passes. At the other hand, Sikkim were struggling to catch the rival brisky pace and surrender their challenge meekly.
After resumption, Maharashtra continued to dictate terms and pushed their opponents on the back foot. Maharashtra could have won by bigger margin but Sindhu Dolma Tamang under the bar was rock solid as she effected brilliant saves. Jyoti Mehra doubled the lead in the 50th minute when she punted the ball to the far corner of the net.
In Group D, Meghalaya trounced Chattisgarh 6-1 at Rosary Ground, Navelim. Meghalaya outplayed their opponents in all departments of the game. Rushia Dhar was at the heart of everything that was good about Meghalaya as she almost single handedly destroyed the pretenders from Chattisgarh. She was the star of the day as she scored a hat-trick. Nisilia Majaw struck twice for winners. Aitihun Majaw added her name on the scorers' lists while Arti Naidu scored the consolation goal for Chattisgarh.
SCOREBOX
Group B: Karnataka 2 beat Chandigarh 0
Group C: Maharashtra 2 beat Sikkim 0
Group D: Meghalaya 6 beat Chattisgarh 1
