Orissa beat WB 6-0, reach finals of womens football

Orissa, who topped the league table with all win, went offensive right from the kick off as Jabmani Soren struck int he seventh minutes after she received an accurate cross piece from left flank off Sasmita Malik.

Malik, who helped India win in the last SAFF games through a free kick goal in the final against Nepal, found the target in the injury time before the lemon-break off a free kick.

Malik, who impressed the crowd with her performance throughout the games so far, struck again in the 73rd minutes.

Leading 2-0 at breather, Orissa put their act together after the play resumed, making frequent forays in the rival`s citadel.

Forward Pinky Magar made a powerful 30-yard effort after measuring a pass from Malik but Bengal custodian Namita Bag fumbled with the ball when Magar came rushing to push the ball inside the post in the 54th minutes.

A Indian team member of 1998 Bangkok Asian games, Bengal`s striker Sujata Kar, who scored ten goals so far in the games, appeared off colour as her team hardly was a trouble for Orissa.

Orissa did not miss any opportunity to convert as Thunki Munda (71st), Jhilli Munda (74th) also contributed for the winner.

Orissa will now face the winner of second semi-final between Manipur and Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, the 34th national games football witnessed altogether 99 goals including the matches involving Tripura, which alone conceded 50 goals in two matches (lost against Manipur 0-24 and 0-26 against Bengal).