CHARLES D'SOUZA
MARGAO
Goa defeated Tamil Nadu 1-0 in the final rounds of the 8th Senior Women’s National Football Championship for the Rajmata Jijabai Trophy, held at the TMK Arena, Panniyankara Stadium, Kerala, on Saturday.
The match kicked off with both teams showcasing their skills, resulting in an exciting exchange of attacks. Goa's Sushmita Jhadav initiated a promising play in the sixth minute with a cutback for Pearl Fernandes, whose shot was easily saved by Tamil Nadu's goalkeeper Devi. On the other end, Ria attempted a long-range strike, but Devi was quick to collect the ball.
As the first half progressed, Goa found their rhythm and finished stronger. Sushmita Yadav nearly scored from a dipping cross, but her shot went straight to Devi. The breakthrough came in the 20th minute when Yadav picked up the ball from midfield and unleashed a powerful strike into the bottom corner, giving Goa a well-deserved lead.
The second half saw Goa ramping up the pressure on the Tamil Nadu defense. Fatma Braganza nearly doubled the lead with a left-footed shot from a tight angle, but Devi was again up to the challenge.
Tamil Nadu’s Madhumati provided a moment of excitement with a dazzling run, dribbling past three Goa defenders before attempting to chip the ball into the net, only to be thwarted by solid defensive work. Goa had another near miss midway through the second half when Pushpa Parab’s blistering shot sailed over the crossbar.
Reflecting on the match, Goa's head coach Remy Colaco expressed pride in his team's performance. “I think we had one of our best games today. We understood where to find gaps in midfield and exploited that space effectively. Winning big games requires performing well under pressure, and our players did just that. They knew the importance of winning the midfield battle, and they proved their capabilities.”
Colaco added, “I’m very happy with the players’ performance in this match and thrilled with the victory, especially considering this was our first participation in the tournament.”
Goa's victory marks a significant achievement in their inaugural championship run, showcasing their talent and determination on the national stage.
