Kickstart FC, Sports Odisha win big in IWL, PIFA edge Odisha Police

PIFA Sports climbed up to the sixth spot on the IWL table.

PIFA Sports FC secured a narrow 1-0 win over Odisha Police in the Indian Women’s League (IWL) fixture at the Kalinga Stadium on Wednesday. The solitary goal was scored by Nisilia Majaw (63’) that handed her team all three points in a closely-fought contest.

It was tough for either team to find any sort of rhythm from the kickoff. Both outfits were cancelling each other out for the majority of the first few minutes. The first half saw PIFA take five shots whereas Odisha Police took only two shots. However, neither team was able to break the deadlock. 

The ball possession went slightly more in favour of PIFA but they failed to capitalise on the larger share of the ball. Karishma’s last-ditch defending was one of the highlights of the first half. Later, a tackle on the marauding Lalnunsiami saved Odisha Police from conceding the first goal. There were no goals to report from the first 45-minutes as both teams went into the break level pegging.

The start of the second half saw more of the same with both teams lacking the cutting edge in the attacking third. To change the complexion of the game, forward Trupti Deep was sent on for Iawanlang Nongbet as the first substitution of the match.

Three minutes after the hour mark, Nisilia (63’) finally broke the deadlock to score the first goal of the match. She took matters into her own hands and scored with a sensational dipping shot past the goalkeeper in the top right corner.

Odisha Police had their moments while searching for an equaliser but there were hardly any clear scoring chances created by the team. Six minutes were added for stoppages but despite a late charge by the local team, they were not able to find the equaliser.

Odisha Police will play its next IWL fixture against SSB Women Football Club at the Capital Ground on Saturday at 8:30 AM IST while PIFA Sports FC faces the Indian Arrows on the same day at the same venue at 3:30 PM IST.

Supriya Rountray scores hat-trick in massive win for Odisha Sports

Sports Odisha completed a comprehensive victory over Hans Women FC at the 7th Battalion Ground, in Bhubaneswar, to climb to fifth on the IWL table on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.

The scoring was opened due to an unfortunate own goal as Anita turned a rebound into her own net, as Sports Odisha took the early lead.

Thereafter, the hosts kept on creating chances with waves of attack as the Hans defence continued to come under pressure. Finally, Subhadra Sahoo nodded in a cross from Satyabati Khadia, to double the lead in the 39th minute.

Going into the lemon break, things remained the same as Sports Odisha entered the break with a comfortable lead.

After the breather, Sports Odisha seemed far better as they found the net at the edge of the hour mark. Supriya Rountray smashes it in from a tight angle on the 53rd minute to score the third of the day.

The flood gates opened up after the hour mark as Sports Odisha scored two consecutive goals to make it 5-0. Pyari Xaxa finished off a low cross from close range after Subhadra Sahoo rounded it past the keeper in the 67th minute. A minute later, Supriya Routray smashed it home from inside the box.

Supriya found the net once again in the 82nd minute to make it half a dozen for Sports Odisha, and a hat-trick for herself, an effort that earned her the Hero of the Match award.

Kiranbala Chanu scores 4 goals for Kickstart FC

Kickstart FC bounced back to winning ways with a splendid 10-0 victory over Mata Rukmani in the IWL 2022.

Yangoijam Kiranbala Chanu opened the scoring for the Karnataka-based club in the 11th minute. The forward turned the ball in from the left hand side of the goal to make it 1-0. From then onwards, Kickstart never looked back.

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In fact, they added five more goals in the span of the next half hour. Kiranbala Chanu added her second only two minutes after her first strike with a perfectly-placed header from the left side off a Yumlembam Pakpi Devi cross.

Another couple of minutes passed and Kickstart made it 3-0 via an Asem Roja Devi stunner. The forward took her chance from long range and struck well to beat the goalkeeper from outside the box. Roja Devi went on to score her second in the 37th minute. The in-form attacker tapped in a perfectly delivered cross from the left flank by Kaviya Pakkirisamy.

With the game completely in their hands, Kickstart showed the hunger to score more. In the 42nd minute, Babysana produced a moment of brilliance with a long range screamer to make it 5-0. Before half time, Kiranbala Chanu completed her hat-trick with a strike from close range to beat the Mata Rukmani goalkeeper.

Despite confirming the three points with a dominant first half display, Kickstart went on to add more to their goal tally on the day. Thingbaijam Babysana Devi, scored her brace in the 49th minute, after a massive effort from Kiranbala Devi in the attacking third. 

In the 83rd minute, Pakpi Devi showed pure pace and quality on the ball. The forward beat the Mata Rukmani goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation and slid the ball into the bottom right corner. Minutes later, Kiranbala Devi completed her quadruple in the 87th minute with an easy tap-in off a Pakpi Devi assist. Before the referee blew the full-time whistle, substitute Laishram Bibicha Devi scored Kickstart’s 10th goal and marked a solid end to the game in the IWL.