GUWAHATI: Dadra & Nagar Haveli (DNH) defeated Bihar by a solitary goal to emerge champions in the Hero Junior (U-17) Women's National Football Championship at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in the city on Monday.
Pooja was the difference between the two teams when she scored the winner in the 87th minute. Put in the clear, she made no mistake to place it into the back of the net.
Earlier, both teams started on a cautious note amidst scorching heat. Dadra & Nagar Haveli had the better of the possession in the initial 10 minutes. In the 16th minute, Dadra and Nagar Haveli had a close shave as Bihar came close when Shruti Kumari's attempt hit the woodwork. Bihar also had another chance in the 31st minute but Lucky's attempt from a narrow angle missed the target.
Dadra and Nagar Haveli also had their chances. First Pooja latched onto a chip but her attempt wasn't on target, and then in the 36th minute, she saw her placement agonisingly hit the post.
In the end, it was Pooja's late strike that helped Dadra and Nagar Haveli to lift the title for the first time.
Handloom & Textile Minister UG Brahma, Revenue Minister Jogen Mohan, Power, Mines & Minerals minister Nandita Gorlosa, the president and the secretary of the Assam Football Association Naba Kumar Doley and Hemendra Nath Brahma attended the final and also distributed the prizes.
Individual Awards Winners:
Best Goalkeeper of the meet- Khushi (DNH)
Top Scorer of the meet- Lucky Kumari (Bihar)
Most Valuable Player of the meet- Pooja (DNH).
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