IWL: Kolhapur City, Bangalore United post wins

Both teams defeat their opponents by a 2-0 margin.

Kolhapur FC (in picture) defeated SAI-STC Cuttack 2-0. Photo: AIFF Media

FC Kolhapur City ended its Indian Women's League campaign on a winning note, defeating SAI-STC Cuttack at the Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana.

With this win, Kolhapur climbed over SAI to the third place on the table with seven points, but it was not enough for the side to make it to the semifinals.

From the very start, Kolhapur was the dominant side. It enjoyed long bouts of possession in the middle of the park. The side got the lead in the seventh minute when captain Kamala Devi dribbled past two defenders and fired the ball in from outside the box.

With a little more than 10 minutes left for the half-time, Renu put it in from long range. The India U-19 international received the ball on the right, dribbled past a defender and sent in a cross that sailed over SAI keeper Subha Patra into the goal.

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In the second half, Kamala Devi created chances from within the hole, while Renu made dangerous runs on the right.

With less than 10 minutes left on the clock, Renu had a chance to score a brace when she controlled a cross from the left and unleashed a fierce shot that thudded the crossbar. From the ensuing melee, Kamala got in a shot on the volley, which again hit the crossbar. However, the referee had already blown the whistle for a foul on a SAI defender.

First win for Bangalore United

Bangalore United FC defeated Baroda Football Academy 2-0 to gain its first win this season. Sivakumari Arumugam and Paromita Sit scored the two goals; winger Amsa got the Player-of-the-Match award.

The win took Bangalore to four points from four games.

Action from the contest between Bangalore United and Baroda Football Academy on Thursday. Photo: AIFF Media

 

For Bangalore, captain Amoolya Kamal was perhaps the most influential player from the middle of the park; she combined well with Khushbu Kumari to form a formidable midfield partnership.

Amsa gave the two midfielders good support from the middle of the park as Amoolya and Khushbu looked to feed her the balls on the right flank.

With a little less than 10 minutes left for half-time, Sivasankari Arumugam gave the side the lead. She in from the left, dribbled past a couple of defenders and rifled a shot into the net from just outside the penalty area.

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After the changeover, Baroda attempted to orchestrate their attacks through left winger Mona. However, Bangalore pushed their defence stalwart Komal Kumari into the holding midfield position to neutralise the threat.

With a little under 10 minutes of regulation time left, Sit once again linked up with Amsa, who cut inside and layed it off for captain Amoolya. The Bangalore captain's first-time shot rattled the crossbar.

The combination finally worked out with about five minutes of regulation time left. Amsa was fed the ball on the right wing, as she dashed into the box and sent in a low cross that Sit merely had to tap into the goal from inside the six-yard-box.