AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: Defending champions Manipur stormed into the semi-finals of the 30th Senior Women’s National Football Championship for Rajmata Jijabai Trophy 2025-26 with a resounding 4-0 victory over Punjab in Group B at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh, on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.

Uttar Pradesh joined Manipur in the semi-finals from the group after seeing off Assam 1-0 in the day’s earlier fixture. Punjab and Assam, meanwhile, bowed out of the competition.

Manipur 4 (Lynda Kom Serto 18', 39', Laishram Bibicha Devi 41', Dangmei Grace 60')
beat
Punjab 0

Manipur, chasing their 24th national title, produced another commanding performance to underline their credentials as the tournament favourites. India international striker Lynda Kom Serto handed them the lead in the 18th minute with the easiest of tap-ins after Oinam Babita Devi, from the by-line, pulled the ball across the face of the goal for her. Lynda doubled the lead in the 39th minute, latching on to a fantastic long ball by defender Martina Thokchom and carefully dinking it over Punjab's onrushing goalkeeper Pushpa Tirkey.

The result was put beyond doubt just two minutes later with Manipur's third goal. While Lynda didn't score, she certainly did create. Her 25-yard strike was saved by Pushpa, but the rebound fell very kindly onto the path of Laishram Bibicha Devi, who made no mistake and headed the ball into the open net.

Finally, Dangmei Grace wrapped up the scoring with the fourth goal in the 60th minute. Her right-footed curling strike from outside the box found its way through the gloves of Pushpa, who could not grip it well enough and conceded Punjab's eighth goal of the final round.

Uttar Pradesh 1 (Pooja 86')
beat
Assam 0

In a tightly contested encounter, Uttar Pradesh held their nerve to secure the crucial three points needed for qualification. Both teams created chances in the first half, but it was finally India U20 international Pooja who made the difference after the break.

Her decisive moment came in the 86th minute, when she was sent clear on goal right through the middle with a brilliant pass by Muskan. Pooja kept her composure and coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner with her left foot to spark jubilant celebrations on the pitch and the Uttar Pradesh team bench.

Manipur and Uttar Pradesh will now meet on the last matchday of Group B on October 10 to determine who finishes as group topper and faces the second-placed team from Group A. West Bengal, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu are still in the race to qualify for the semi-finals from Group A, which will conclude on October 9.