Indian Women's League: Bangalore Utd, Gokulam Kerala bag narrow wins

Sabitra Bhandari scored the solitary goal in Gokulam Kerala's win.

Bangalore United Football Club (BUFC) fought off late resilience from Bidesh XI Sports Club to register a 2-1 win and get their 4th Hero Indian Women’s League (IWL) campaign underway. A brace from Satyabati Khadia gave BUFC a two-goal cushion, but a late strike from Bidesh’s Sushmita Jadhav accounted for a nervy finish. [KH_ADWORDS type="3" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS] Both sides started on the balance, with the game being dominated mostly in midfield. However, it was BUFC who drew first blood in the 21st minute. A defence-splitting through ball from skipper Amalya Kamal put Satyabati Khadia through on goal. Her first touch was heavy, which took the ball past her. Just when the chance seemed to have gone begging with the angle getting tighter, she completely wrong-footed the keeper, who had taken a couple of steps off her line and chipped it over her with deft finesse. The goal seemed to take some wind off Bidesh XI’s sails, as BUFC headed into the break with a solitary goal advantage. In the 59th minute, Bidesh goalkeeper Astrid Savia Pereira found herself in a tough spot again. Trying to catch a routine long ball, she made a total hash of it and let it fumble through her hands. Alert to the mistake, Satyabati latched onto the loose ball and rounded it off into an empty net to score her second. Bidesh XI lacked imagination going forward, but in the 86th minute, a momentary lapse of concentration in the Bangalore defence allowed the chasing pack to pull one back, when Sushmita Jadhav slotted home a rebound, after goalkeeper Vinaya Seshan had initially made a good save. The strike ensured a nervy ending, but Bangalore United held on to walk away with the three points. [KH_ADWORDS type="4" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS]

Gokulam Kerala FC 1-0 Sreebhumi FC

Gokulam Kerala FC registered a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Sreebhumi Football Club to get their Hero Indian Women’s League (IWL) campaign underway with three points. Sabitra Bhandari scored the solitary goal of the game in the 67th minute. The first half was largely dominated by Gokulam in terms of possession, but Sreebhumi did ever so well to stand their ground and keep their opponents at bay. The game remained goalless going into the breather, with Gokulam in the ascendency. In the second half, the tempo remained the same as the Malabarians continued to overload the final third but risked getting caught on the counter. However, the strategy paid dividends not very long after. [KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News | Article Continues Below"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS] In the 47th minute, Sabitra Bhandari played Kamala Devi through on goal with a delightful pass and with only the keeper to beat, couldn’t convert. Sreebhumi Malik came off her line and pulled off a ‘starfish’ save but the rebound still fell to Kamala Devi, who at the second time went around the keeper but hit the woodwork, leaving her to wonder if it indeed was Gokulam’s day. However, a howler from Malik, not very long after her heroics served Gokulam the lead on a platter. A cross into the box that would be easy-pickings for a keeper, she misjudged the flight of the ball and Sabitra Bhandari was there, like a fox in the box, to pick up the pieces. Sreebhumi showed great heart, defending for their lives but their lack of penetration up front turned out to be the difference of the day, as Gokulam Kerala held on to walk away with the three points.