Indian football wrap, Mar. 16: Rajasthan United, Aizwal win in I-League; Bala Devi hat-trick helps Sribhumi FC win

Indian football wrap, Mar. 16: Rajasthan United, Aizwal win in I-League; Bala Devi hat-trick helps Sribhumi FC win

Rajasthan United FC delivered a crushing blow to Shillong Lajong’s dwindling I-League title aspirations as it secured an emphatic 4-0 victory in a 2024-25 I-League match at the Vidyadhar Nagar Stadium in Jaipur on Sunday.

The hosts’ triumph was marked by goals from Abhash Thapa (45+2’), Martand Raina (50’), Seiminmang Manchong (54’), and Pranjal Bhumij (76’).

Shillong Lajong entered the match with faint hopes of clinching the title, trailing league-leader Churchill Brothers by eight points.

Following a demoralising 1-6 defeat against Churchill Brothers in their previous outing, a return to form was crucial.

However, Lajong’s performance on the day lacked character, and it seemed overshadowed by the remnants of its previous loss. Throughout the match, it struggled to mount any significant challenge against Rajasthan’s defence, appearing disjointed and ineffective in both attack and defence.

The defeat has further implications for Lajong as it now finds itself seventh, with 26 points from 19 games. This loss severely hampered its title chances, leaving it reliant on other results to maintain even a theoretical chance at the top spot.

Rajasthan United, on the other hand, returned to winning ways after suffering two consecutive defeats. The victory not only reinstated its confidence but also improved its position in the league table, lifting it to fifth, with 27 points from 19 matches.

The hosts also avenged its 0-8 loss against Lajong in the first leg match as it retains a mathematical possibility of claiming the league title.

Meanwhile, Aizawl FC beat relegation rival Delhi FC 2-0 in its I-League encounter at the Mahilpur Football Stadium on Sunday.

Lalbiakdika (40’, 77’) scored a brace to give his side the crucial three points.

The victory edged Aizawl away from the bottom two for the first time in the calendar year with 19 points from as many matches, albeit having played a game more than SC Bengaluru.

Delhi, with 13 points from 19 games, remains rock bottom.

India international Ngangom Bala Devi struck a hat-trick as hosts Sribhumi FC snatched full points from Sethu FC with a 3-2 victory in the Indian Women’s League 2024-25 at the Bibhuti Bhushan Stadium on Sunday, March 16, 2025.

The class of Bala Devi was in full display as the mercurial striker scored in the 39th, 49th (penalty), and 65th minutes after Sethu took the lead through Hadijah Nandago in the 37th minute.

Lisham Babina Devi pulled one back for the visitors in the 88th minute, but it wasn’t enough to change the course of the encounter.

The win took Sribhumi FC to 12 points from eight matches and to third place in the table, while Sethu has 10 points from eight matches.

In the other game, a second-half brace by Manisha Naik helped Nita FA secure a 2-0 victory against HOPS FC at the Capital Football Arena.

Manisha Naik (60’, 63’) scored both her goals around the hour mark, putting the hosts in a comfortable position, in a match that it was dominating from the get-go.

The result propelled Nita FA to the fifth spot in the IWL 2024-25 table, with 10 points from eight matches.

HOPS, meanwhile, languishes at the bottom with a solitary point from as many games.