AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: Defending champions Manipur began their Final Round campaign of the 30th Senior Women’s National Football Championship for Rajmata Jijabai Trophy 2025–26 in style with a 3-0 win over Haryana in Group B at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh, on Saturday, October 4, 2025.

The star of the match was undoubtedly India international Dangmei Grace, who struck twice and set the tone for a dominant Manipur performance. The win placed the Northeastern side in second place in Group B with three points in three, behind leaders Assam, who registered their second straight win with a 2-1 comeback victory over Punjab in the other match of the day.

Manipur 3 (Dangmei Grace 25', 53', Khumukcham Bhumika Devi 63')
beat
Haryana 0

Record 23-time champions Manipur announced their arrival in the competition with a dominant performance against two-time runners-up Haryana, who slumped to their second straight defeat. Grace netted a brace and created constant trouble for the Haryana backline.

The breakthrough came in the 25th minute when Phanjoubam Nirmala Devi delivered a pinpoint cross from the right. Grace rose above her marker and placed a powerful header past the keeper to open the scoring.

She doubled the lead in the 53rd minute, courtesy of a defensive lapse from Haryana. After Remi Thokchom charged down the right flank and swung in a teasing cross, Grace was left unmarked at the far post. Her header deflected off a Haryana defender and nestled into the net.

Ten minutes later, Khumukcham Bhumika Devi completed the job. A low-driven cross from the right found her in the middle of the box, and she made no mistake in finishing off a well-executed team move, sealing an emphatic victory for Manipur.

Assam (Ningthoujam Roni Devi 62', Yangoijam Kiranbala Chanu 80')
beat
Punjab 1 (Soibam Tejibala Devi 10')

Assam continued their winning run, coming from behind to defeat a spirited Punjab side. Despite conceding an early stunner, they regrouped well and showed tactical discipline to take all three points.

Punjab went ahead in the 10th minute through a moment of magic from Soibam Tejibala Devi. After collecting the ball on the left, she outwitted her marker and unleashed a superb long-range strike that soared over goalkeeper Haripriya Deka and into the top corner.

Assam, however, responded with renewed energy after the break. Substitute Sorokhaibam Ranjana Chanu delivered a precise cross in the 62nd minute, which Ningthoujam Roni Devi calmly finished to bring the scores level.

The winner came in the 80th minute. Ranjana once again turned provider, threading a lovely ball through to Yangoijam Kiranbala Chanu, who found herself in space and slotted the ball past the Punjab goalkeeper with composure.