Sethu FC dominate IG Academy as India Rush and Gokulam Kerala share honours

A brace from Sabina Khatun sealed the deal for Sethu FC.

SETHU FC defeated Indira Gandhi Academy for Sports and Education 3-1 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong, Meghalaya on April 06, 2018.

Indumathi’s 27th-minute strike and Bangladesh International Sabina Khatun’s brace led SETHU FC to gather three points after Pradeepa Sekar had pulled a goal back in the 35th minute.

Both teams gauged each other in the first half and although SETHU FC tried to cajole a clear goal scoring opportunity in the 4th minute, the deadlock in the match finally broke 27th minute when Indumathi scored from inside the box to give SETHU FC a solitary goal lead.

Indira Gandhi Academy brought the match to level proceedings in the 35th minute when Pradeepa Sekar slyly finished her chance past the onrushing custodian.

With momentum on their side Indira Gandhi Academy almost took the lead in the 45th minute after Pradeepa once again found the net, the referee, however, cut the play short for off-side as the half-time scoreline read 1-1.

Changing over, the match evolved into a battle for possession in the midfield as both teams cancelled each other out, unable to hold on to the ball. In the 56th minute, Indumathi’s freekick was palmed away by the opposing custodian as SETHU FC upped the ante.

Indira Gandhi Academy survived a howler in the 63rd minute when their custodian rushed to clear away a dangerous long ball only for the ball to bounce over her head and fall to SETHU’s attack line, who failed to find the net.

In the 76th minute, SETHU FC took the lead when Sabina Khatun scored from a tight angle as her lofted shot went over the opposing custodian’s head to make the scoreline read 2-1. In the 81st minute, Sabina curved home from inside the box to extend SETHU FC’s lead as the scoreline read 3-1.

Determined to salvage something out of the match, Indira Gandhi Academy attacked but the SETHU FC defence kept them at bay as the full-time scoreline read 3-1 in SETHU FC’s favour.

ALSO READ:

Indian Football Season 2017-2018 Review: Chennaiyin FC

Indian Football Season 2017-18 Review: Delhi Dynamos

Exclusive: Watching my uncle made me fall in love with the game- Deependra Negi

India Rush SC played out a goalless draw with Gokulam Kerala FC in a group stage match of the second edition of the Hero Indian Women’s League at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong, Meghalaya on April 06, 2018.

Both teams shared the spoils of battle as neither team emerged as victors, despite Gokulam Kerala FC dominating the majority of the match.

It was all a one-woman show for Gokulam Kerala FC in the first half as Ugandan forward Ikwaput Fazila captivated the India Rush SC defence with ease. In the 6th minute itself, Fazila showed signs of danger when she burst from the India Rush SC defence line but only for her shot to be saved.

In the 20th minute, India Rush SC survived a howler when goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan came way off her lines to clear a dangerous long ball but failed to make contact, enabling Fazila to steal possession. On a clear goal without the goalkeepers, Fazila failed to strike the ball home from 30 yards out.

That wasn’t all. In the 34th minute, the Ugandan forward literally ran havoc as she danced past the India Rush defence line with ease and finished her chance from a tight angle, only for the referee to call the play foul and cut short the celebrations.

India Rush SC, although pressed adopting a more attacking stance failed to test the tenacity of the Gokulam Kerala FC custodian as she came under minimal fire. The half-time scoreline read 0-0 as both teams went into the tunnel on level pegging.

Changing over, the script of the match completely changed as both teams played cautiously and gauged each other out. Chances came few for both the contingents and the match evolved into a battle for possession in the midfield.

[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]

In the 71st minute, Gokulam Kerala FC had a freekick for the edge of the penalty area, but the team failed to make most out of it.

Both teams failed to cajole clear goal scoring chances and the end of time the full-time scoreline read 0-0.