AFC Women's Champions League 2024: Odisha FC smash Lion City Sailors

Odisha FC Women’s dominated the entire game.

In a tightly contested start to the game, Odisha FC took the lead in the 20th minute at the Prince Mohammad Stadium, Jordan with an own goal from Neha’s well-taken corner. While Odisha FC should have scored more with their chances, it was Lion City Sailors who equalized in the 40th minute with a well-taken shot across the goal. The first half finished with a scoreline of 1-1.

Odisha came out all guns blazing in the 2nd half and Lynda Kom scored 2 goals quickly (54, 57). With a comfortable 3-1 lead, coach Crispin took Pyari Xaxa off in the 63rd minute as she was struggling with some pain in her ankle.

Lion City Sailors kept trying but OFC’s newly recruited Ibhrahim Maryam was solid at centre-back. In the 88th minute, Sailors let in another own goal and OFC won the game comfortably with a score of 4-1 in the end.

OFC will be playing the local Jordanian team, Etihad Club, in their next game in the preliminary stage on 31st Aug 2024. The winner of the group will qualify for the Group stage of the first-ever AFC Women’s Champions League.

📹 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 the 4 goals that led to #OFCW's historical win to start the inaugural AFC Women's Champions League Prelims. 🔥Video Courtesy: Jordan FA#odishAFC #AmaTeamAmaGame #OFCWomen | #AWCL #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/1nH8VbiI8n

— Odisha FC Women (@OdishaFCW) August 26, 2024

Boasting quality Indian players like Dangmei Grace, Pyari Xaxa and young sensation Lynda Kom, the Juggernauts produced a tour de force to blow away the Singapore-based side in the opening group game.

Odisha FC Women impressively began the game, asserting their authority and intentions of playing an attacking game from the get-go against the reigning Singapore Women’s Premier League champions.

Odisha have jumped to the top of Group B in the AFC Women’s Champions League preliminary qualifiers stages with the win. They will face hosts Etihad Club (who won the 2023 Jordan Women’s Football League) on 31 August.

If Etihad Club are held to a draw by the Lion City Sailors in their first game (on 28 August) then a draw for Odisha Women FC will be enough for them to top their group and move into the group stages of the 2024-25 AFC Women’s Champions League.

But if Etihad FC defeats the Singaporean side by over a three-goal margin, then Odisha FC must beat them at the weekend in their next preliminary group game to guarantee qualification into the group stages.

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