Manipur outplayed defending champion Odisha 3-1 to clinch the 20th senior National women’s football championship title, its 17th crown overall, at the Golaghat stadium here on Monday.
Bala Devi struck twice in the third and 55th minutes while AIFF Women’s Player of the Year Oinam Bembem Devi found the target in the 20th minute in the one-sided summit clash.
Odisha reduced the margin in the 91st minute through substitute Sakina Nesa’s close-range strike.
Manipur last won in 2010.
“It was a brilliant victory and I am really happy to end a fairly good campaign on a high. More importantly, I would like say that the Odisha players have a lot of potential,” an elated Bembem Devi said after the match.
Manipur dominated from the word go and was clearly the much superior side.
Odisha, made up mostly of under-19 players, found it difficult against the more fancied opponents.
Manipur took just three minutes to open the scoring. Odisha goalkeeper Sita Sharma failed to judge Bembem Devi’s cross from the right, which Bala pounced on and headed it home from close range.
The winner doubled the lead in the 55th without much fuss as Bembem Devi slammed in a low cross from winger Mandakini Devi.
The second half started as the first with Manipur dictating terms and raiding the opposition citadel at will.
Mandakini squared for Bala Devi inside the area, leaving the 23-year-old with the easiest of tap-ins to notch up a brace.
Bala was adjudged player of the tournament.
Odisha, though, showed great character and its doggedness paid dividends in the injury time.
Substitute Sakina reduced the margin off a Subha Prava Rout’s through-ball that sliced open the Manipur defence.
The result: Final: Manipur 3 (Bala Devi 3 & 55, Oinam Bembem Devi 20) bt Odisha 1 (Sakina Nesa 90+1).
Player of the tournament: Bala Devi (Manipur).