Indian Women's League: Sethu FC trounces Manipur Police in 10-goal contest, FC Kolhapur wins a thriller

Sethu FC banked on four goals from Sabitra Bhandari to beat Manipur Police 6-4, while FC Kolhapur defeated Baroda Football Academy 4-3 on day two of the Indian Women's League (IWL).

Sethu FC striker Sabitra Bhandari (R) struck four goals to power her side to a 6-4 win against Manipur Police in the Indian Women's League (IWL) on Monday.

Sethu FC put on a brilliant show to secure a 6-4 victory over Manipur Police in a thrilling Indian Women's League (IWL) encounter at the Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana on Monday.

Sabitra Bhandari emerged as the match-winner as her four first-half goals propelled Sethu FC to the win. Her counterpart Bala Devi was also on song, bagging a brace, but her efforts went in vain.

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Nepalese striker Sabitra gave Sethu FC the best of starts as she found the back of the net as early as the 30th second, scoring the fastest goal of the IWL season.

She doubled her tally on the 16th minute, before an own goal by Sethu goalkeeper Sowmiya pulled one back for Manipur Police. Sabitra went on to complete her hat-trick when Grace fed her a ball from the right and she slipped it past Manipur 'keeper Panthoi Chanu on the 34th minute.

Bala Devi pulled Manipur Police back into the game by scoring on the 41st minute to make it 2-3, but Sabitra restored her side's two-goal cushion by bagging her fourth goal seconds before the half-time whistle.

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Pramodini Chanu and Dangmei Grace scored in quick succession to make it 6-2 in Sethu FC’s favour. Sabitra broke away with a quarter of an hour left and unselfishly squared it to Grace, who tapped it into an empty to put the match beyond any doubt.

Bala Devi scored her second goal of the match in injury time, but it was simply too little too late for Manipur Police.

- FC Kolhapur wins a thriller -

FC Kolhapur City made a stirring comeback to win 4-3 and get the better of Baroda Football Academy in the earlier contest of the day. Kolhapur forward Kashmina was the star of the game her goals on either side of the half-time break helped her team come back from a two-goal deficit.

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Baroda took the lead on the 28th minute when defender Ayomide Awawu Anibaba's clearance header looped over the Kolhapur 'keeper and sailed into the net for an own goal. The scoreline read 2-0 seven minutes later as winger Mona soared into the Kolhapur box, cut inside and fired home.

Kolhapur City forward Kashmina (C) was the star of the game her goals on either side of the half-time break helped her side come back from a 0-2 deficit.

 

Kashima gave Kolhapur hope just before the half-time whistle as she took full advantage of a fumble by Baroda goalkeeper Pinky Darji to score into an empty net. Kolhapur came out all guns blazing in the second half and Kashima scored on the 62nd minute to put the her side back on level terms. The match came to a frantic end, as Kolhapur and Baroda substitutes, Pratiksha and Heta Shukla, scored for their respective sides in the space of two minutes, before Kamala Devi put the tie beyond doubt by scoring in the third minute of injury time to power Kolhapur to a 4-3 win.