Rajasthan won their first National state level title in 60 years when they defeated hosts Karnataka 3-1 in the final of the Junior Girls’ National Football Championship 2024-25 Tier 2 at the Sporting Planet Lovedale School Ground in Belgaum, Karnataka, on Friday, August 9, 2024. The winners led 2-0 at half time.
The last time Rajasthan bagged a trophy was in 1964, defeating Assam in the final of the Junior Boys’ National Football Championship for the Dr. BC Roy Trophy in Ajmer.
In a well-contested encounter, a fine volley by Manju Kanwar and two well executed free-kicks by skipper Sanju Kanwar made all the difference as Rajasthan picked up three goals against Karnataka’s one to emerge triumphant.
In a match in which Karnataka initially held a slight edge, Rajasthan shot ahead in the 23rd minute when striker Manju Kanwar found the target with a measured volley, for which Karnataka goalkeeper Prayukta Arya had no answer.
The second goal was the result of a cleverly taken free-kick by Manju Kanwar in the 36th minute that sailed over the goalkeeper’s head to help Rajasthan consolidate the lead.
Despite the first half setbacks, Karnataka didn’t look a beaten lot and attacked regularly to pull one back in the 63rd minute. As the Rajasthan goalkeeper Munni failed to collect a ball cleanly, Ruthu Sreenandan was quick to push in from close.
But what probably took the fight out of Karnataka was the third goal by Rajasthan, another product of a free kick taken by Manju Kanwar. Prayukta Arya was well positioned to collect the ball, but it slipped out of her hands at the last moment to roll into the goal.
In the group league, Rajasthan defeated Maharashtra, Tripura and Pondicherry before beating Sikkim in tie-breaker in the semi-finals.
AIFF Media
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