PIFA Colaba 1-3 Kickstart FC
Kickstart FC started their campaign in the Hero Indian Women’s League (HIWL) with a dominant display, registering a 3-1 victory against debutant PIFA SC.
PIFA SC started the game deep down the defence keeping Kickstart at bay. The Karnataka-based side created a lot of chances as they kept Anjali busy under the PIFA post. It was finally at the 23’ minute that the deadlock was broken when defender Nirmal Devi scored a screamer from around 40 yards or more – already a contender for the goal of the tournament.
Forward Parameswari Irom doubled the lead for Kickstart in the 33rd minute.
But the joy lasted seconds as PIFA pulled back one in the next move the same minute itself — PIFA forward Nissilia sent it at the back of the net after she received an inch-perfect cross from the right-wing.
Thereafter the game opened up as both sides continued to create plenty of chances. Kickstart utilized their wings pretty well but lacked in their finishing while PIFA continued to build from their back.
Getting back from the halftime break, Kickstart seemed sharper as they kept on pressing looking for the insurance goal. PIFA SC lost too many balls in their midfield making it easier for their rivals.
Zairem of PIFA got the first booking of the evening for bringing down Kaviya illegally near the hour mark. It was seconds later that Kaviya sealed the fate of the match in the 58th minute. Nirmala lobbed the ball inside the box and with PIFA keeper Anjali fumbling, Kavya was quick to capitalise.
SSB Women FC 6-2 Hans Women’s FC
Dular Marandi scored the first hat-trick of the Hero Indian Women’s League on the opening day itself as SSB Women came back from behind to register a thumping 6-2 win over Hans Women FC at the 7th Battalion Ground on Friday (April 15, 2022).
Savi opened the scoring for Hans Women early in the 7th minute with a blasting shot past the opposition goalkeeper. The Delhi-based side continued with their solid start to the game as Jyoti doubled their lead after scoring from the spot in the 20th minute.
With the two-goal lead, Hans Women looked to be in the driver’s seat in the game and kept on with their relentless attacks until the half hour mark. However, moments later, a thunderous strike from distance by Purnima Linda landed straight into the back of the net, giving SSB Women a lifeline.
Moments before the half-time break, the Calcutta Women’s League champions found a much-needed equalizer — Ranjita Devi scoring off a powerful header from inside the box as the two teams went into the break at 2-2.
Almost immediately after the restart, Purnima Linda scored her second to help SSB Women take the lead in the 48th minute. To make matters worse for the Delhi-based side, SSB Women skipper Dular Marandi made it 4-2 just before the hour mark with an unstoppable header straight from the corner.
Hans Women brought on Bhawna Yadav and Asha Thapa to replace Savi Mehta
and Laxmi Arya to help stabilize the side. The Kolkata side kept dominating and found a fifth through Dular Marandi — her second of the game. A beautiful cross from Sandhya Kachhap was turned in by the forward to make it 5-2 in her side’s favour.
With the result in their hands, SSB Women kept the ball possession as Hans Women chased helplessly. In the dying moments of the game, captain Dular Marandi found her moment and squeezed in another to complete a magnificent hat-trick. The prolific forward managed to get enough off a cross from Anibala Devi to make it 6-2.
Indian Arrows 4-0 Sirvodem SC
Indian Arrows started their HIWL campaign with complete dominance as they rarely gave Sirvodem SC a chance to play their natural game. The AIFF’s developmental side, that made its Hero IWL debut at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Friday, April 15, bagged home the full points with a comfortable 4-0 win over Goan side Sirvoderm SC.
The deadlock was broken within seven minutes of the game as Priyangka stunned everyone with a long ranger from the middle of the park, leaving Sirvodem custodian Dhanushree stranded on her feet.
Thereafter, the AIFF’s developmental side stepped up their game with Amisha Baxla’s terrific wing play. The 18-year-old first assisted Narzary’s goal with a sublime cross in the 23rd minute, followed by a goal of her own in the 25th minute.
Sirvoderm were left locked in their own box for major parts of the match, despite having a much more experienced side. The youngsters kept strict eyes on Ghanaian forward Tetteh and left no space for her to create problems.
The Arrows thought they had their first booking of the match around the half hour mark when referee Ranjita Tekcham flashed her at Muskan for a tackle on Tetteh, but the referee later overturned her own decision after discussing with her assistant. The resulting set-piece by Sirvodem was easily dealt with by the Arrows defence.
After the changeover, the Arrows looked to slow the game down, keeping the ball and passing it around the park. However, they did keep probing at Sirvodem’s third of the pitch, with Priyangka and Apurna often being involved in orchestrating the chances.
The midfielder could have had her brace around the hour mark when substitute Aarti, who had replaced Martina, sent in a low, hard cross, that was volleyed perfectly by Priyangka. However, Sirvodem goalkeeper Dhanushree showed cat-like reflexes to parry it away.
Priyangka finally scored her brace in the 82nd minute, when she laced the ball home after a brilliant bit of hold-up play by Apurna. The Arrows notched thus climb to the second spot on the Hero IWL table, behind SSB Women, who had defeated Hans Women FC 6-2 earlier in the day.
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