Manipur were crowned champions of the Sub-Junior Girls’ National Football Championship 2024-25 Tier 1 after defeating Jharkhand 7-5 in a thrilling match in Berhampore, West Bengal, on Wednesday, September 11, 2024.
Manipur and Jharkhand also contested the final of the Junior Girls’ NFC Tier 1 last month and the former walked away with the title for the record 11th time.
The winners led 4-0 at half time, but just when it looked like a one-sided affair, Jharkhand came back in the second session to score five goals though it wasn’t enough to alter the course of the match. Manipur remained firmly in control and added three more goals to clinch the issue.
The match saw an early lead from Manipur when Laitonjam Linthoi Chanu scored in the fifth minute. Captain Julan Nongmaithem further extended the lead with two consecutive goals in the 15th and 34th minutes. Thoudam Malemnganbi Devi added another just before halftime, making it 4-0 for Manipur.
Jharkhand’s Deepika Kumari displayed the first sign of a fightback by scoring in the 49th minute, but Manipur responded quickly with a goal from Thoudam in the 55th minute. Chingkhamayum Redima Devi then scored twice in the 66th and 73rd minutes, bringing Manipur’s tally to 7.
Despite the deficit, Jharkhand fought back with substitute Swati Munda scoring two goals in the 74th and in the 90+6minute. In between, Deepika Kumari added a goal in the 80th minute, and Sabrina Kumari scored in the 85th minute, but it wasn’t enough to get the better of the ultimate champions.
