ALL INDIA WOMEN FOOTBALL: Roller-coaster draw sends Raisen through to semi-finals

Bhopal:DFA Raisen secured top spot in their Group and advanced to the semi-finals of the All India Women’s Football Championship after a dramatic 3-3 draw with Kolkata on Thursday.With two wins and a draw, Raisen finished the pool stage with the highest points tally and will contest the last four on Friday.The game was a roller-coaster from the outset. Kolkata shocked Raisen by striking inside the third minute, seizing an early lead and putting the latter on the back foot. Raisen responded with composure and grit, and midfielder Anjali Yadav produced a moment of class to level the score. Yadav’s brilliant field goal — a driven effort from open play — injected momentum into the home side.Buoyed by that equaliser, Raisen turned the contest around before half-time. They pressed high, won key second balls and fashioned a number of chances. Komal converted one of those opportunities to put Raisen 2-1 ahead, a scoreline that held until the half-time.The second half opened at a frantic pace as both teams threw numbers forward in search of control. Raisen extended their cushion in the 15th minute of the second half when Neha, who had been named Player of the Match in the previous fixture, produced a composed finish to make it 3-1.Raisen looked to be in command, but Kolkata staged a strong late resurgence.Raisen capitalised on lapses in concentration and increased pressure, pulling a goal back to make it 3-2. In the closing minutes, Kolkata continued to press and were rewarded when they breached Raisen’s defence again, forcing the scores level at 3-3. Despite a frenetic finale, neither side could find a decisive breakthrough.Coach Param Aswar’s side will take confidence from topping the group and from a resilient display against a determined Kolkata outfit. Raisen now prepare for Friday’s semi-final, where they will aim to convert their pool-stage momentum into a place in the final.