UWCL: Manisha Kalyan’s Apollon Ladies thrash ZFK Ljuboten in qualifiers

Manisha Kalyan secured a hat-trick of assists in the game.

In the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Women's Champions League, Apollon Ladies delivered an emphatic 9-0 triumph against ZFK Ljuboten.

Right from the opening whistle, the Cypriot outfit displayed their dominance, finding the back of the net as early as the second minute. Their relentless performance continued until the final moments, culminating in their ninth goal in the 90th minute. It was a commanding display by Apollon Ladies as they secured a resounding victory in this UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying clash.

First Half - A one-sided affair

The Apollon Ladies made a blazing start to the match. Joana Dantas met a precise cross from Georgiou with a powerful header, giving her team an early lead. The home side continued their dominance as winger Sydny Nasello produced a moment of brilliance in the 24th minute. She darted past a couple of defenders before launching an unstoppable shot that left the goalkeeper helpless.

Despite signs of recovery from Ljuboten, the Apollon Ladies extended their lead in the 27th minute. Olivia Anokye showcased her skill by cutting in from the left wing, unleashing a precise and powerful strike to make it 3-0. Dantas on the other hand, wasn't done yet, as she secured her brace in the 41st minute after capitalizing on a loose ball at the edge of the box to make it 4-0.

Kaytlin Brinkman, the only forward who hadn't scored, ended that drought in the 45th minute. Anokye set up Brinkman for a one-on-one opportunity, and the striker coolly slotted the ball home to cap off a resounding 5-0 lead before the lemon break.

Second Half - Manisha Kalyan takes the field

In a commanding second-half performance, the Apollon Ladies continued to assert their dominance. Manisha Kalyan entered the game at half-time, taking the place of the fifth goal scorer, Kaytlin Brinkman. Apollon wasted no time in extending their lead as the second half kicked off, with Olivia Anokye heading in a close-range effort to make it 6-0.

Manisha came close to adding her name to the scoresheet in the 54th minute, narrowly missing the target with a powerful shot. However, she more than made up for it with a brilliant assist - a powerful run into the opposition's box culminated in a precise cross, finding Joana Dantas, who made it 7-0.

Her impact on the eighth goal mirrored her previous assist. Another lightning-fast run down the left wing resulted in a dangerous cross, allowing Sydny Nasello to tap in at the far post in the 80th minute. Apollon showed no mercy, maintaining the pressure.

In the 82nd minute, Filippa Savva unleashed a powerful strike that rattled the crossbar, and Anokye's rebound attempt struck the post. The relentless pressure eventually led to the ninth goal, with Manisha securing a hat-trick of assists. She skillfully bypassed a defender in the box and set up Eleni Giannou for an easy tap-in in the 90th minute.

With ŽFK Ljuboten unable to mount any meaningful response, the referee mercifully blew the full-time whistle after five minutes of additional time. It concluded a thumping 9-0 victory for the Apollon Ladies, highlighted by an outstanding performance from Indian superstar Manisha Kalyan.