Even as the India team continued its preparation for the upcoming U-17 FIFA World Cup, to be hosted by India, by participating in an European four-nation tournament, the repeatedly-deferred U-17 Women’s National Football Championship continued with its fixtures in Assam.
The hosts clinged on to their top spot in Group G in spite of suffering a 1-2 defeat against Gujarat in their encounter at Dimakuchi Stadium on Thursday. Gujarat rode a winner in the 63rd minute from Khusboo Saroj that made futile an equaliser from Assam’s Anjuli Brahma in the 13th minute after Player of the Match Maya Rabari had given Gujarat a third-minute lead.
The win put third-placed Gujarat on equal points with Assam but the latter still stayed atop with their three points and a better goal difference. Second-placed Haryana, also with three points, have played one game less than the contenders from the group on the day.
In Group B, Mizoram beat Karnataka 2-0 with strikes from Lalrintluangi (61’) and Lalrinawmi (71’) to take their total to four points.
But group leaders Chhattisgarh maintained their top spot with a convincing 3-0 win over Uttar Pradesh to take their tally to four points, but with better goal difference than Mizoram. Ripika Korram (18’,45+4’) scored a brace for the winners while Bindu Telam (90+4’) added to the score late in injury time.
Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh played out a 1-1 draw in their Group D match at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium practice ground. While the first half remained goalless, Angel Tamang gave Arunachal the lead in the 52nd minute. They, however, could not maintain the lead for long as just 13 minutes later, Anita equalised for Himachal.
In the other Group D and last match of the day, Sikkim beat Goa 2-1. Anshika Gupta (6’) gave Goa an early lead but Simran Gurung (13’) and Priya Chhetri (51’) scored to give Sikkim all three points from the game.
Arunachal Pradesh stayed on top of the group with four points while Sikkim was second with three points from their two matches so far. The third and fourth spots were occupied by Himachal Pradesh and Goa with two and one point respectively.
