Indian Football wrap, February 6: Sreenidi Deccan FC held by Real Kashmir FC in I-League; East Bengal wins in IWL
Indian Football wrap, February 6: Sreenidi Deccan FC held by Real Kashmir FC in I-League; East Bengal wins in IWL
Sreenidi Deccan FC and Real Kashmir FC were locked in a one-all draw in the I-League championship at Deccan Arena in Hyderabad on Thursday.
Real Kashmir broke the deadlock in the 25th minute through a display of clinical precision. Paulo Cezar capitalised on a brilliantly executed through ball that sliced through the Sreenidi Deccan defence.
The Brazilian outstripped his compatriot and defender, Eli Sabia, and cleverly toe-poked the ball past the advancing Sreenidi goalkeeper, Aryan Lamba, to put the visitors ahead. In the 42nd minute, the home team scored the equaliser when Angel Orelien delivered an impeccable cross from the left flank, finding Munoz who rose higher than the Kashmir defence to head the ball into the net.
The second half saw both teams continue to test each other’s defense, but both the goalkeepers were equal to the task which saw the match end in a draw. Sreenidi takes on Shillong Lajong FC at the SSA Stadium, Shillong, on February 14.
East Bengal shrugged off their defeat in the previous match to collect full points when they beat hosts HOPS FC 1-0 in the Indian Women’s League 2024-25 match at the Ambedkar Stadium, on Thursday
The win helped East Bengal stay on the top of the table with 15 points from six matches. So far, they have won five and lost the only tie in the away encounter against former champions Gokulam Kerala FC. HOPS continue to languish at the bottom with just one point in their kitty from the drawn match against Kickstart FC in Bengaluru..
In the 40th minute, EB striker Soumya Guguloth, a regular with the national team received a ball just inside a crowded HOPS box. She first failed to tap the ball with her left and then unleashed a side volley with her right that took a few drops before lazily rolling over the goalline. HOPS goalkeeper Jyoti Tumung failed to collect as it slipped through her hands.
Two first-half strikes from seasoned campaigner Ngangom Bala Devi proved to be the decider, as Sribhumi FC edged Nita FA 2-1 at the Capital Football Arena, on Thursday.
In a clash between the two newly-promoted Indian Women’s League sides. The visitors led 2-0 at the break.
India international Bala Devi (11’, 25’) moved her tally to five goals IWL 2024-25 season with her brace. Rahama Jafaru (62’) did pull one back for Nita FA, but the hosts could not draw level in the end.
Despite the win, Sribhumi remain sixth in the IWL table, but have crucially moved to within a point of fifth-placed Nita FA, who are on seven; both teams have played six matches apiece.
– Team Sportstar
Published on Feb 06, 2025
