Gokulam Kerala FC registered its fourth win in as many matches in the 2018-19 Indian Women’s League, as it beat Panjim Footballers 2-0 at the Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana on Saturday.
India internationals Sanju and Anju Tamang were on target for the Kerala side, which was without its charismatic captain Dalima Chhibber. But its teenage sensation, Manisha, bossed the midfield to take the Player of the Match award.
It was defence-vs-attack all through as Gokulam took the initiative early on. Sanju, who had the captain's armband for the day, received a pass from the right, set herself up, and unleashed a drive into the bottom corner for the first goal.
Manisha dictated terms from midfield again in the second half. She linked with Bawitlung, who played a delicious one-two with Babysena Devi to break free of her marker, but Panjim keeper Ashika Gadekar came off her line and swept the ball from the Mizo forward's feet.
However, Manisha stamped her authority in the game with a dummy at the edge of the penalty box and played a delicate through ball to Anju Tamang, who merely had to beat the keeper, which she did with ease.
The win takes Gokulam one step closer to the semifinal spot, as it now has 12 points from four matches – a perfect record.
RELATED | Ratanbala Devi hat-trick steers Sethu FC, Manipur Police eases past Baroda
Hans beats defending champion
Hans Women FC posted its second win of the season as it beat defending champion Rising Student Club 2-1.
Hans' Nigerian midfielder Rita Casia was the star of the show as she controlled the midfield and also scored an absolute scorcher from long range.
Rising Student Club started with the higher tempo but the first chance of the match fell to Hans.
Jyoti Ann Burrett knuckled a well-placed free-kick from long range, which was saved by RSC keeper Rani Bhowmick. The team from Odisha soon launched a flurry of attacks. Satyabadi Khadia broke free on the right, stepped away from the defender and pulled the trigger, but it was saved by the keeper.
Krishna Barick had an early opportunity to put RSC in front when she got the ball inside the opposition area. However, Hans keeper Vanshika Rana got her fingertips to Barick's shot.
Hans, however, picked up the pace in the second half, and its Nigerian midfielder Rita Casia provided it the perfect ammunition to take the lead. Rita saw the opportunity and pulled the trigger from around 25 yards out and placed the ball perfectly in the top corner. RSC goalkeeper Rani Bhowmick had no chance of saving that.
That goal gave Hans a lot of impetus and it doubled its lead soon after, when Anushka Samuel broke free and slipped it past Bhowmick to double its lead. Sradhanjali Panda scored one in injury time to pull one back, but it was too little, too late for RSC.
Comments
SHARE