Gokulam Kerala, Sethu FC to meet in IWL title-decider

The Malabarians currently lead the Indian Women's League points standings.

Gokulam Kerala maintained their top spot in the Indian Women's League (IWL) after beating Sports Odisha 7-1 on Sunday, May 22, 2022 at the Capital Ground in Bhubaneswar.

Striker Elshaddai Acheampong scored four goals, while winger Soumya Guguloth netted two and set up two more and Manisha scored one to help the Malabarians to yet another massive win.

The defending champions made a quick start, getting the lead as soon as the fifth minute of the game. Elshaddai found the net perfectly when she ran onto Soumya’s cross after a touch from Grace inside the box.

Elshaddai soon doubled the lead for Gokulam Kerala in the 23rd minute. Sports Odisha were able to pull one back within a minute, when Pyari Xaxa slammed in her shot from outside the box into the top corner. However, it turned out to be a mere consolation goal.

Just before the halftime whistle, Manisha scored the third with a curler from Elshaddai’s missed header, making it 3-1 for Gokulam going into the breather.

After the breather, Gokulam Kerala took full control of the game. As the game crossed the hour mark, Soumya scored two goals in quick succession in the 64th and 68th minute, respectively, to make it a brace for herself.

Elshaddai finished off the drubbing in the closing embers of the game, scoring on the 78th and the 87th minute to make it 7-1 in favour of the Malabarians.

After this win, Gokulam Kerala have 30 points from 10 straight wins in the league. As it stands, the league will be decided on May 26, with the winners of the game between Gokulam Kerala and Sethu FC taking the title.

Sethu FC run riot against Hans Women FC

Hans Women's disappointment run continues in the Indian Women’s League (IWL) after they suffer another 0-5 loss against former champions Sethu FC. A brace from Devneta, and a solitary goal from Sandhiya, Lavanya and Vanlalmawii ensured the Tamil Nadu side earn all three points from the game.

Sethu had a quick start to the game with Devneta finding the net as soon as in the 2nd minute when she curled home the ball from Sandhiya’s cross. Within the 16th minute, she doubled the lead for her side making it a brace for herself again scoring from the same spot through Sandhiya's cross.

Thereafter it turned out to be a one-sided affair as Sethu FC continued to dominate Hans in every department. In the 38th minute, Sandhiya found the net through her shot inside the box from the left flank to keep it 0-3 going into the break.

After the breather, the demolition continued. As Sethu continued to maintain the waves of attack. In the 72nd minute, Lavanya struck the net to increase the lead. And finally, Vanlalmawii scored the winner in the 88 minutes to ensure a 0-5 victory for Sethu.

After this win, Sethu cemented the second spot after Gokulam with 31 points from 10 matches.

Sirvodem emerge victorious against Mata Rukmani

A second-half comeback saw Sirvodem SC register a 4-1 victory over Mata Rukmani FC at the 7th Battalion Ground in Bhubaneswar on Sunday, May 22, 2022, in the Indian Women’s League (IWL).

Mata Rukmani took an early lead in the game when Ripika Korram found the net in the 10th minute. Korram utilised the chaos inside the Sirvodem box aptly to earn her side a lead. 

However, they failed to hold on to the lead as Sanfida Nongrum pulled one back for Sirvodem within the 38th minute with a headed goal. Going into the lemon break, things remained all square as both sides missed chances to bag a lead and canceled each other.

Coming back from the breather, Sirvodem looked much more determined. Near the hour mark, Jyoti found the back of the net with a powerful shot that gave some much-needed confidence to the Goan side.

Minutes later, substitute Aleena Tony managed to get to the end of a through ball before the Mata Rukmani keeper, to poke the ball home.

Jyoti completed her brace in the 63rd minute when she skipped past a sliding defender and curled it into the top corner from a tight angle. With this victory, Sirvodem strengthen their position at 9th, as they are level on points with ARA FC, who are ahead on goal difference.