Indian Women's League: Kenkre FC, Baroda FA thump opponents

Kenkre FC captain Soumya Guguloth scored a hat-trick in her team's commanding win.

Kenkre FC overcame Odisha Police by an overwhelming margin of 4-1 at the Bangalore Football Stadium in Indian Women's League on Saturday. Skipper Soumya Guguloth (25', 39', 69') scored a fantastic hat-trick alongside Samiksha (45'+1') to take an unassailable 4-0 lead for Kenkre FC before Jabamani Soren (87') scored one late goal for Odisha Police. Kenkre FC had their first chance in the 14th minute when Soumya tried to sneak in from the right but the Odisha Police defender Hema Xaxa intercepted on time to avert the danger. [KH_ADWORDS type="3" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS] The skipper opened the scoreline in the 25th minute when she capitalised on a misjudge by the goalkeeper Digi Majhi. The Mumbai-based outfit scored two quick goals to take a hefty lead of 3-0 at the end of the first 45 minutes. Soumya completed her brace in the 39th-minute from close before Samiksha joined the party in the third minute of the added time of the first half. After the breather, Odisha Police came very close to open their account but Arati Anima Khadia's grounder missed the target by a whisker in the 55th minute. In the 69th minute, Soumya completed a hat-trick, which happened to be the second one of the ongoing Hero IWL tournament, having breached the defence from the middle. Jabamani Soren scored one consolation goal for the Red outfit three minutes to the end of the regulation time but it was too late to deter the inevitable. Kenkre continued to attack Odisha Police with more attacks in their pursuit of extending the lead but the Odisha girls saw the dangers until the referee Kanika Barman blew the final whistle.

Baroda Football Academy 3-0 BBK DAV Football Club

Baroda Football Academy registered a stunning 3-0 victory over Punjab’s BBK DAV Football Club on at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Saturday, January 25. BBK’s Mahima Bishnoi scored an unfortunate own goal before Sushmita Lepcha and Akanksha Kandalkar wrapped up the three points for Baroda. The first half was quite evenly contested, with both sides fancying their chances from long range at times and coming close on a couple of occasions. However, the deadlock wasn’t broken in the half, as the score-line remained goalless heading into the breather. [KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News | Article Continues Below"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS] The complexion of the game could have been completely different, had it not been for a moment of misfortune when in the 47th minute, a seemingly harmless cross from Sibani Sharma was deflected in by BBK’s Mahima Bishnoi as Baroda got the edge with a stroke of luck. In the 63rd minute, a rapid transition from defence to offence led to Baroda’s two forwards, Sushmita Lepcha and Sasmita Behera combining beautifully, playing a lovely give and go between them which opened up the BBK defence leaving Sushmita with only the keeper to beat, and she did so with fine aplomb to give her side a two-goal cushion. Cruising towards a victory, Akanksha Kandalkar, in the 77th minute, added the final note to a fine victory symphony by scoring an outrageous free-kick from about 40 yards from goal, which could potentially turn out to be the goal of the season.