Shillong , Apr 6: Sethu FC continued their rich vein of form in the Indian Women’s Football League as they defeated Indira Gandhi Academy for Sports and Education 3-1 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong, Meghalaya on Friday.
Indumathi’s 27th minute strike and Bangladesh international Sabina Khatun’s brace helped Sethu FC gather three points after Pradeepa Sekar had pulled a goal back in the 35th minute.
Both teams gauged each other in the first half and although Sethu FC tried to cajole a clear goal scoring opportunity in the 4th minute, the deadlock in the match finally broke 27th minute when Indumathi scored from inside the box to give Sethu FC a solitary goal lead.
Indira Gandhi Academy brought the match to level proceedings in the 35th minute when Pradeepa Sekar slyly finished her chance past the onrushing custodian.
With momentum on their side Indira Gandhi Academy almost took the lead in the 45th minute after Pradeepa once again found the net, the referee however cut the play short for off-side as the half-time scoreline read 1-1.
Changing over, the match evolved into a battle for possession in the midfield as both teams cancelled each other out, unable to hold on to the ball. In the 56th minute, Indumathi’s freekick was palmed away by the opposing custodian as Sethu FC upped the ante.
Indira Gandhi Academy survived a howler in the 63rd minute when their custodian rushed to clear away a dangerous long ball only for the ball to bounce over her head and fall to Sethu’s attack line, who failed to find the net.
In the 76th minute, Sethu FC took the lead when Sabina Khatun scored from a tight angle as her lofted shot went over the opposing custodian’s head to make the scoreline read 2-1. In the 81st minute, Sabina curved home from inside the box to extend Sethu FC’s lead as the scoreline read 3-1.
Determined to salvage something out of the match, Indira Gandhi Academy attacked but the Sethu FC defence kept them at bay as the full-time scoreline read 3-1 in Sethu FC’s favour.
(ANI)