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2nd July 2017: The WIFA Women’s Championship is down to just two teams after the semi-final was concluded earlier today at Cooperage Stadium. FC Pune City defeated Bodyline SC 7-6 via penalties after the game finished 1-1, whereas, United Poona SA overcame Aadhar Pratishtan 1-0 in a closely contested semi-final.
More importantly, the final which will be played tomorrow at Cooperage Stadium is between two Pune outfits – FC Pune City and United Poona SA.
The first semi-final between Bodyline SC and FC Pune City was nothing short of a roller-coaster ride. FC Pune City took the lead early in the match when Pooja More found the net from close range to give her side a vital lead. Pune City could have increased their lead later in the first-half through Senorita Noughpluh and Pooja More but a strong Bodyline’s defense somehow held their nerves.
At the stroke of the half-time, Championship’s top scorer Karen Pais levelled the score after a brilliant run from the left flank to register her nine goals in four matches. The score remained at 1-1 as the match was headed into the penalty shootout.
FC Pune City failed to utilize their advantage twice in the penalties but a superb save by Deepika Masurkar gave them one more chance to prevail and this time they did as the girls in orange booked their place in the Final.
The second semi-final between United Poona SA and Aadhar Pratishtan also went down to the wire as a lone goal from star forward Aishwarya Balapure proved enough for the Pune-based side to cruise into the Final.
United Poona SA defended for their lives in the last quarter of the game to deny Aadhar Pratishtan to take the match into the penalties. In the end, it was UPSA’s supreme defense which helped them go all the way to set up an exciting clash against FC Pune City at Cooperage, tomorrow.
