Alex Ambrose’s Lionesses emerged comfortable 4-1 winners over the Priya PV-coached Tigresses in match 6 of the Hero Under-17 Women’s Championship held at the Kalyani Municipal Stadium. The Lionesses took the lead early in the first half on Friday and doubled it 12 minutes into the second period. A lapse at the back handed the Tigresses a route back in the tie, but two costly errors by their goalkeeper, Tanu meant they were to endure a tough night in the office. 

• Lynda Kom Serto opened the floodgates in the 15^th minute.
• Anju struck the crossbar seven minutes into the second half.
• Astam Oraon scored the Lionesses’ second in the 59^th minute.
• Karen Estrocio made the most of some overplay from the Lionesses in the 72nd minute and got her side back into the tie.
• Tanu’s lapse handed Priyangka Devi Naorem her first and her team’s third goal of the night in the 86^th minute.
• The Tigresses’ then allowed Daisy Crasto’s shot to rattle the net in the 94^th minute.

Barring the opening few exchanges where both sides tried to feel each other out, Priya PV’s side found it difficult going, with the Lionesses slowly find their feet and dominating possession. Without midfielder Martina Thokchom, the Tigresses failed to find the right balance that would go on to hurt them 15 minutes into the half.

Some neat play on the left-hand side of the Lionesses attack released Mariyammal B, who picked out Lynda Kom Serto inside the box. Despite being surrounded by a couple of defenders, she turned well and expertly chipped the outrushing Lionesses goalkeeper, Tanu to score her fourth goal of the tournament.

Ambrose’s side grew into the fixture after that strike, with Poonam, Mariyammal and Sunita Munda orchestrating most of the play. The Tigresses also had a few half chances themselves but failed to find the right pass and went into the half as the unhappier of the two units.

After the restart, though, it was all about Priya PV’s side as they upped their game both in offence and defence. The intent was almost rewarded in the 52^nd minute when Anju got on the end of a second ball inside the Lionesses box. Her effort, however, rattled the crossbar with the ricochet not having much substance to it.

Minutes later and probably against the run of play, the Lionesses doubled their lead courtesy of a sensational 20-yard effort from Astam Oraon. Despite that, chances kept coming the Tigresses way, with Nitu’s brilliant solo run needing a tremendous intervention on the part of Lionesses stopper, Manju Ganjhu in the 62^nd minute.

Best goal of the tournament so far? 🙌#GroundsKnowNoGender pic.twitter.com/BALxnSyccI

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) November 15, 2019

Ten minutes later, though, Ganjhu’s risky pass invited undue pressure on Nirmala Devi Phanjoubam, whose mismanagement handed the ball straight to Karen Estrocio. The Tigresses substitute made no mistake and got her side back into the tie after finding the back of the net.

After resisting waves of opposition attack, Ambrose’s charges got back their two-goal cushion in the 86^th minute. Priyangka Devi Naorem hit a stinging low drive from distance that Tanu failed to deal with it and handed the Lionesses their third goal of the night. That would turn into four as the Tigresses keeper conceded once again in injury-time after allowing Daisy Crasto’s effort to sneak in.