Defending champions Manipur played true to form and booked a semi-final berth, while last year's runners-up Orissa were ousted from the 11th National women's football championship in Chennai on Tuesday.

Manipur, despite not having 11 of their players -- they are assisting India in the AFC championship in Malaysia, thrashed Punjab 3-1 in a Group A match, while Kerala put paid to the aspirations of Orissa, scoring twice at the fag end of the match for a 2-1 win in Group B.

Both Punjab and Karnataka, who lost to Manipur, are out of the reckoning.

Manipur, who won both their matches in the three-team group, is the first side to progress to the last four.

Kerala, with three points take on Goa, who drew with Orissa on Sunday.

Manipur had the major share of the exchanges against Punjab, whose defence wilted under pressure, especially in the second-half. After Phajabi Devi put Manipur in the lead in the 16th minute, Sharanjit Kaur equalised in the 31st minute.

Crossing over, Manipur again pressed forward with attacks, but could score only in the 57th minute when captain Lokeshori Devi found the net. Seven minutes later, Sandhya Rani Devi (substitute) made it 3-1.

In the Orissa-Kerala match, Aruna Dibyadarshini (26th min) put the former in the lead. Kerala, fighting for survival, equalised in the last minute through Angel Adolphes. Substitute T Sheeja scored the winner in injury time.