Manipur and West Bengal play goal-less draw

Manipur completed their group engagements with a goalless draw against West Bengal in the women's football event of the National Games at JRD Tata Sports complex here on Thursday.

Manipur, previous edition's runners-up, topped group B on the basis of better goal difference and will clash with Tamil Nadu in the semi-finals tomorrow.

The other semifinal will be between defending Champions Orissa and West Bengal.

Manipur had more possession of the ball and its defence, boasting Internationals H Thoi Devi and L Asharani Devi, put up a good show as they handled Bengal counter-attack quite
impressively, especially in the second half.

The players of the north-eastern side were aggressive and kept attacking the rival goal-post but missed the target on four occasions.

As the first-half went barren, Manipur, having several internationals players in their ranks, including captain and custodian L Ronibala Chanu, intensified the attack.

They came close to scoring in the fag end but Y Kamala Devi's header hit the bar and an alert Bengal goalkeeper Namita Bag punched the ball out.

A couple of minutes before a powerful 30-yarder was smartly sent off the bar by Bag.

In a Group A match in the morning, defending champions Orissa outclassed hosts Jharkhand 8-0 in their last group clash.