MARGAO
The Goa women's football team's hopes of qualifying for the next round ended as they lost 4-0 to Odisha in the second match of Group B, at the Tilak Maidan, Vasco on Monday.
Pyari Xaxa, S Lynda Kom, Subhadra Sahoo, and Sumitra Hembram were the scorers for Odisha.
It was a do-or-die match for the Goa team to reach the semi-finals of the National Games. Just two minutes into the game Malti Munda made a run down the right flank and placed a well-measured cross into the box for Pyari Xaxa. Pyari did not make a mistake to score with a stunning header. Moments later, Goa goalkeeper Ashika Gadekar came out of the goal to save Pyarir Xaxa's shot. However, in the rebound effort, Odisha forward S Lynda Kom made no mistake in slotting the ball into the net.
Odisha coach Crispin Chhetri after 15 minutes of the game made their first change. He replaced defender Jasoada Munda with forward Subhadra Sahoo. Goan coach Joao Menino made their first change just 20 minutes into the game. He brought on Aprita Yeshwant Pednekar in place of Michel Castanha.
In the 35th minute, Goa captain Sushmita Yadav played the ball into the box for Karen Estrocio but she failed to capitalise on the easy attempt. Goa tried desperately to reply with a goal at the beginning of the second half, but they failed to break the Odisha defence.
Meanwhile, after 60 minutes, Odisha defender Jabamani Tudu saw a yellow card for fouling Goan forward Karen Estrocio. In the 70th minute, S Lynda Kom played a defence-splitting pass to Subhadra Sahoo. Subhadra took the ball cut it straight into the box and placed the call calmly to the left corner to score the fourth goal for Odisha in extra time from Manisha Naik's inch-perfect assist.
Goa will now play their next match on Wednesday against Chandigarh.
