Orissa beat WB 6-0, reach finals of women''s football

Jamshedpur, Feb 18 (PTI) Defending champion Orissa sailedinto the final defeating West Bengal 6-0 in the firstsemi-final of the women''s football event of 34th NationalGames at JRD Sports Complex here today.

Orissa, who topped the league table with all win, wentoffensive right from the kick off as Jabmani Soren struck inthe seventh minutes after she received an accurate crosspiecefrom left flank off Sasmita Malik.

Malik, who helped India win in the last SAFF gamesthrough a free kick goal in the final against Nepal, found thetarget in the injury time before the lemon-break off a freekick.

Malik, who impressed the crowd with her performancethroughout the games so far, struck again in the 73rd minutes.

Leading 2-0 at breather, Orissa put their act togetherafter the play resumed, making frequent forays in the rival''scitadel.

Forward Pinky Magar made a powerful 30-yard effort aftermeasuring a pass from Malik but Bengal custodian Namita Bagfumbled with the ball when Magar came rushing to push the ballinside the post in the 54th minutes.

A Indian team member of 1998 Bangkok Asian games,Bengal''s striker Sujata Kar, who scored ten goals so far inthe games, appeared off colour as her team hardly was atrouble for Orissa.

Orissa did not miss any opportunity to convert as ThunkiMunda (71st), Jhilli Munda (74th) also contributed for thewinner.

Orissa will now face the winner of second semi-finalbetween Manipur and Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, the 34th national games football witnessedaltogether 99 goals including the matches involving Tripura,which alone conceded 50 goals in two matches (lost againstManipur 0-24 and 0-26 against Bengal).