U-17 Women's C'ship: Lionesses, Tigresses register wins on opening day
Lionesses defeated Panthers 3-0 in the campaign opener, whereas Tigresses got the better of Cheetahs in the second match of the under-17 championship.
Published : Nov 11, 2019 20:34 IST
Lionesses defeated Panthers 3-0 in the first contest of the Hero U-17 Women's Championship in Kalyani, West Bengal, on Bengal. Lynda Kom and Priyanka Sujeesh Pottekat scored for the Lionesses, while Panthers' Sudha Tirkey scored an own goal in the 17th minute.
The championship, organised by Football Sports Development Limited, is aimed at showcasing the best of talent for the Indian team ahead of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in 2020.
Lionesses dominated right from the get-go, Sumati Kumari coming close to getting the side the lead in the sixth minute. But it was the Panthers captain Sudha who got the side on the board: she guided the ball into her own net while clearing a cross from Sunit Munda.
READ | All you need to know about the Hero U-17 Women's Championship
Lynda Kom, who scored four goals for India in the SAFF U-15 Championship in October, chipped in a ball over Anjali Barke's head after the goalkeeper fumbled, allowing Priyanka to set her up inside the box.
The Lionesses were fluid on the pitch and the Panthers, coached by Subhash Chakraborty, provided little resistance.
With India U-17 women’s head coach Thomas Dennerby watching from the stands, Lionesses kept the same momentum in the second half. Priyanka was rewarded with a goal for the constant pressure she mounted on the Panthers’ defence but it was second-half substitute Daisy Crasto who had the chance of the evening as the Lionesses fell shy of scoring the fourth during the closing moments of the game.
-- Amisha Baxla magic helps Tigresses beat Bembem Devi’s Cheetahs --
Two early goals from Tigresses helped the Priya PV-coached side register a 2-1 win over Cheetahs in the second game on Monday. Amisha Baxla (3’) scored and set up Karen Estrocio (6’) before Reet Kashyap (67’) got Cheetahs a consolation goal. Cheetahs head coach and Indian football legend Oinam Bembem Devi saw her charges drop on the backfoot after a defence-splitting pass from the Tigresses midfield which witnessed the Jharkhand-born Baxla flash in from the right wing to finish with perfection. Estrocio was then assisted by Baxla as the girls in blue romped up a two-goal cushion within six minutes. Aveka Singh dictated proceedings from midfield as Tigresses held on comfortably.
ALSO READ | FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup emblem launched in Mumbai Inspiration was not far away for the Cheetahs with Bembem Devi’s guidance from the touchline. A better show in the second half was rewarded with a glorious long range-goal from Reet Kashyap after defensive naivety from the Tigresses.
Tigresses who joined Lionesses on top of the table will now face Panthers on Wednesday, while Lionesses will lock horns with Cheetahs on the same day.
Aimed at scouting the best talents to form U-17 team ahead of India’s participation and hosting of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2020, the championship sets pace to country’s preparation for the mega event.