MARGAO
Goa got their senior women's national football championship campaign to a flying start with a comfortable 3-0 win against Rajasthan at PJN Stadium, Fatorda. Karen Estrocio netted a brace while Velanie Fernandes added the third for the hosts.
Goa' started the match on a commanding note where Sushmita Jadhav had a couple of early chances where she squandered both opportunities. Goa didn't allow Rajasthan to settle down in the game and Velanie Fernandes too saw her attempt go wasted. Rajasthan keeper Deepika made a fine save to deny Namita Govekar.
Goa finally broke the deadlock in the half-hour mark when Namita Shripad Govekar sent in a glorious ball in the area where Karen Estrocio leapt highest to nod in to give Goa a deserving lead. The winners led 1-0 at the break.
In the second half, Goa doubled the lead through Karen Estrocio who smashed in a powerful shot to make it 2-0. In the 64th minute, Valanie Fernandes scored with a long-range shot to take the game beyond the opponents' reach.
Goa would have scored more if not for Rajasthan's defenders. Rajasthan's Priyanka Yadav and Jyoti came with crucial blocks to deny Velanie, Rizella Almeida and Sushmita.
Malati Mundi scored a sensational treble as Odisha trounced Andhra Pradesh 8-0.
Odisha were dominating the early minutes of the game wherein Jasoda Munda and Deepa Nayak had series of early shots at goal but besides the early Odisha dominance what shouldn't be ignored is Andhra Pradesh's keeper Kaluvapalli Vennela who stood strong to thwart the early danger.
Odisha broke the deadlock in the 16th minute through Sumitra Hembram, whose powerful shot had no answer from Vennela. In the next minute, it was Deepa Nayak with a strike after being fed by Satyabati Khadia. Khadia was impressive on the right flank. Her dribbling and pace made it difficult for the opponents.
Odisha scored their third just before the half-hour mark when Sumitra played Deepa through on goal from her own half. Deepa had to cover the half length and was calmly placed in the bottom left corner. Odisha scored their fourth in the 44th minute and it came from a set piece when Deepa and Sumitra played a short corner and the former sent in a low cross which was headed in by Grace H.
Malati Munda made it 5-0 just before the breather, once again it was Deepa with a through pass from the midfield. In the additional time, Odisha were gifted a goal when AP keeper Kaluvapalli failed to deal with a Jasoda shot and Malati Munda capitalised to make it 6-0 at break
Crossing over nothing changed despite Odisha withdrawing a couple of their players. They scored their seventh after a fine cross from the right was met by Malati, who smashed in at the roof of the net. In the 53rd minute, Jasoda made it 8-0 with a fine placement shot leaving the keeper on her feet.
