Priyangka Devi’s first-half strike gives India U-17 women’s football team victory over Romania

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Priyangka Devi’s lone goal saw the Indian Under-17 women’s football team beat Romania U-17 women’s side 1-0 on Wednesday (February 19, 2020) in the second friendly match between the two teams in Turkler, Turkey.

Their previous encounter on Sunday ended in a 3-3 draw but this time around, it was the Indian outfit that notched up the win with Priyangka Devi scoring the game’s solitary goal. Priyangka scored this goal in the 29th minute of the game on the penalty which was decisive.

The girls in blue kicked off the first half on a positive note and pressed hard to take the lead. Sumati Kumari, who had scored India’s third goal in the previous match against Romania, had a chance to put India ahead in the 12th minute but her run was adjudged to be offside.

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Two minutes later, Sunita Munda put in a dangerous cross from the flank after beating her marker. However, it was collected by the Romanian custodian.

India continued to put pressure on the Romanian defense as they earned a couple of free-kicks in good positions. India had a great chance to score in the 28th minute through a set-piece opportunity but Nirmala Devi saw her shot being saved by the keeper.

However, a minute later, the Indian side took the lead through Priyangka Devi– who made no mistake from 12 yards and slotted the ball into the net calmly.

The Indian eves continued to haunt the Romanian defense and, the Romanian keeper came to her side’s rescue yet again to keep the scoreline intact in the opening minutes of the second half.

Mariyammal Balamurugan tried to double the lead when she intercepted a pass in Romania’s defence and took on the keeper. Her effort though was saved and put out for a corner.

The second half was played out on similar lines as Sumati came close to scoring in the 58th minute. She got on the end of a cross from Priyanka with an excellent run but the shot was saved by the keeper.

The match ended at 1-0 as the Indian defence kept a clean sheet and Priyangka’s first-half strike proved to be the difference.