Indian Women's League: Sethu FC, Kenkre FC book semi-final spots

Sandhiya scored a staggering four goals for the defending champions.

Defending champions Sethu FC confirmed their place in the semifinals of the 4th Hero Indian Women’s League (IWL) in style, after registering a dominant 6-0 victory over Baroda Football Academy at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Thursday. Sethu’s Sandhiya had a clinical afternoon in front of goal, bagging four, with Amsavalli and Karthika adding the remaining two. [KH_ADWORDS type="3" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS] The champions were stunned by Group A leaders KRYPHSA in their second game, but have come back all guns blazing, with the defeat now firmly behind them. They showed no respite and drew first blood in the ninth minute when Baroda keeper Afshan Ashiq came off her line to thwart danger and in an attempt to take the ball of Amsavalli’s feet, completely missed it, allowing the winger to round her and feed Sandhiya on her left, who made no mistake with the goal gaping wide open. Sandhiya added her second in the 15th minute after being played through on goal. She timed her run to perfection, beating the offside trap and with ice running through her veins, slotted the ball home to the keeper’s bottom left. Amsavalli netted the third in the 34th minute, in what seemed like a carbon copy of the second goal after which, Sethu released their foot off the pedal till the last 15 minutes. Sandhya completed her hat-trick in the 75th minute, capitalising on yet another lapse in the Baroda backline. Karthika added one of her own three minutes later, with the floodgates now wide open before Sandhiya added her fourth of the afternoon in the 82nd minute, to take her IWL tally of the season to 13 goals, just two behind Gokulam Kerala’s talismanic forward Sabitra Bhandari, who has 15. [KH_ADWORDS type="4" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS]

Kenkre FC 2-1 Bangalore United FC

Kenkre FC booked their place in the semi-finals of the 4th Hero Indian Women’s League (IWL) after registering a 2-1 win over local outfit Bangalore United FC (BUFC) in their final Group B fixture at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Thursday.

Kenkre’s Asha Kumari opened the scoring before Techi Akung doubled their advantage. Amulya Kamal pulled one back for Bangalore, but that served as nothing more than a consolation.

The first half remained goalless, with Kenkre enjoying more possession and better chances. First blood was drawn just 40 seconds after the break when a cross from the left flank caught the BUFC defenders napping and Asha Kumari was the first to react as she slotted it past Vinaya Seshan in goal to score the opener.

The advantage was doubled in the 56th minute by Techi Akung, who made a corner routine count and made no mistake, heading home with precision.

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A long-range effort from near the halfway mark by BUFC skipper Amoolya Kamal was completely misjudged by Kenkre keeper Riya Tank as the ball bounced over her head in the 86th minute.

The speculative strike served as a mere consolation for BUFC, who have now closed their account for the season while Kenkre will have another date with destiny, with the coveted IWL crown on the horizon for the teams in the last four.