Manisha Kalyan becomes first Indian to score in UEFA Women's Champions League

With the win against Samegrelo, Apollon ladies have qualified for the round two of the UWCL.

In a historic moment for Indian football, Manisha Kalyan etched her name in the annals of the sport by becoming the first Indian, both among men and women, to score a goal in the UEFA Women's Champions League (UWCL) Qualifiers. This remarkable achievement came during a thrilling encounter between Apollon Ladies and WFC Samegrelo where the Cypriot side eased past the Georgian side with a score line of 3-0.

Manisha started the game on the bench and was introduced in the 55th minute replacing Sydny Nasello. Her team, Apollon Ladies were dominating the game but had only one goal on the scoresheet prior to her introduction. She started well and after a few minutes she was shifted to a more central role and led the line for her side. In the 72nd minute, she chipped past the Samegrelo goalkeeper Fernandes and etched her name into the history books.

Manisha's historic goal in the UWCL is a testament to the growing strength of Indian women's football. It is a symbol of hope for aspiring young girls across the country who dream of representing their nation on the international stage.

Manisha Kalyan has shown, that with hard work, determination, and the right support, Indian women can compete with the best in the world. Manisha Kalyan's name is now etched in the history books alongside some of the greatest footballers in the world. She has not only made her family, team, and country proud but has also inspired a generation of young Indian girls to pursue their dreams in football.

In the earlier game which was contested on 5th September against Ljuboten, she delivered a hat-trick of assists after being summoned from the bench.

What next for Apollon Ladies

The round 2 draw of the UEFA Women’s Champions league will be made on 15th September with 12 teams vying for a place in the group stage of the prestigious competition. Four teams viz FC Barcelona, Lyon, Bayern and Chelsea have confirmed their participation as a result of winning the respective leagues last season.

Round 2 of the competition is structured into two paths, with 14 teams in the Champions Path and 10 teams in the League Path, all competing through two-legged ties to secure a place in the group stage. 

Apollon Ladies are unseeded in Champions Path meaning they will be playing one of the seeded teams in the pot and they are SK Slavia Praha, FC Rosengård, SKN St. Pölten Frauen, Glasgow City FC, SL Benfica, FC Zürich or AS Roma.

The two-legged games will be played on 10/11th October and 18/19th of October.