Women’s National Football: Pyari Xaxa Brace Guides Odisha Into Final Against 22-Time Champions Manipur

Bhubaneswar: Odisha eased into the final of the 29th Senior Women’s National Football Championship for the Rajmata Jijabai Trophy with a 2-0 victory over Haryana on Saturday.

Odisha will face 22-time champions Manipur in Monday’s final after the northeastern team overcame West Bengal 3-0.

Odisha captain Pyari Xaxa, an India international, was the star of the show, scoring both goals of the contest at Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground in Chhattisgarh’s Narainpur.

The 27-year-old striker from Sundargarh capped a fine solo run as he dribbled past a couple of Haryana defenders and beat goalkeeper Shreya Hooda to give Odisha the lead after 10 minutes.

Shreya and Odisha goalkeeper Sasmita Parida pulled off some good saves to keep rival strikers at bay. Despite some fast-paced end to end action, another goal remained elusive until Pyari put the game to bed in the 88th minute when her free-kick slipped through Shreya’s hands and rolled over the line.

Odisha thus qualified for their seventh final, having lifted the trophy just once — in the 2010-11 season, at Bhilai.

On Monday, Odisha will be out to break the Manipur jinx, having lost to the powerhouse in five previous finals.