West Bengal Beat Manipur on Penalties to End 14-Year Wait For Juniors Title
West Bengal have ended a 14-year wait for the Dr Talimeren Ao Junior Girls’ National Football Championship Tier 1 title, defeating defending champions Manipur 3-2 on penalties in a dramatic final at the RDT Stadium in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, on Friday.
Xtratime Webdesk: West Bengal has ended its 14-year wait for the Dr Talimeren Ao Junior Girls’ National Football Championship Tier 1 title by defeating defending champions Manipur 3-2 on penalties in a dramatic final at the RDT Stadium in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, on Friday.
The match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes before West Bengal held their nerve in the shootout to lift the trophy for only the second time. Their previous triumph came in 2012.
West Bengal made the brighter start and took the lead in the 14th minute. Swarna Chettri delivered a clever ball into the right channel, allowing Diya Biswas to race through and finish past the advancing Manipur goalkeeper Sonia Devi Laishram.
Manipur responded early in the second half. Five minutes after the restart, Narmada Devi Mayengbam restored parity with a low-angled finish from the top of the box. With both defences holding firm, neither side could find a winner in regulation time.
With the game finely poised in the closing stages, Manipur tried for a late winner. Linthoi Chanu Laitonjam broke down the right flank, but West Bengal goalkeeper and captain Annyasha Neogi came off her line at the right moment to clear the danger. Neither side could break the deadlock in the remaining minutes, sending the final into a penalty shootout.
West Bengal kept their composure in the shootout, with Moumita Majhi, Sudipta Mandal and Pallabi Barman converting their penalties. Manipur managed only two successful attempts through Mangaleibi Irom and Agunwangliu Khengtamei. Neogi proved to be the hero for Bengal, making two crucial saves in the shootout to secure the 3-2 victory.
The triumph also marks a remarkable turnaround after West Bengal suffered a heavy 0-9 defeat against Manipur in last year’s final at the same venue.
The achievement was welcomed by IFA secretary Anirban Dutta, who congratulated the Bengal players, coaching staff and support staff for their memorable title-winning campaign.