Kerala (white jerseys) try to keep West Bengal (maroon) at bay on Saturday. (PTI)

WOMEN?S NATIONALS

Imphal, March 6: In a repeat of previous finals, defending champions and 10-time winners Manipur will be locking horns with Bengal in the final of the 13th senior women?s national football championship at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium from 1.30 pm tomorrow.

In the second semi-final match yesterday, two-time champions Bengal thrashed Kerala 5-0 to enter the final. The reigning champions, on the other hand, decimated Goa 3-0 on Friday en route to the final.

Though the hosts will be looking to lift their 11th trophy, they are up against a determined Bengal team in the final tomorrow.

Barring 1994 when the competition was not held, either Manipur or Bengal had featured in all the finals of the championship.

The rivalry between the two women?s football powerhouses of the country had grown over the years with Bengal snatching victories on two occasions from their traditional opponents. The thinness of the gap that separated the two teams was highlighted by the narrow 11-10 tiebreaker win for Manipur in the 12th edition.

Bengal yesterday rode striker Sujata Kar?s four goals, including a hattrick, to pummel their West Indian rivals. They opened their account in the 10th minute through a suicide goal by Sunitha. The referee, however, awarded the goal to Sujata because she had sent the cross to the penalty area.

Bengal had to be content with a slim solitary-goal advantage till the middle of the second session when Sujata showed her class with three quick strikes (53rd, 56th and 79th minute).

Substitute midfielder Shilpi Deb netted one in the 65th minute between Sujata?s hattrick.