Gokulam inch closer to semis

Gokulam Kerala FC registered their fourth win in as many matches at the 2018-19 Hero Indian Women’s League, as they 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, but it was their teenage sensation Manisha, who bossed the midfield and stole the show to take the Player of the Match award.

It was defence-versus-attack all through as Gokulam took the initiative from early on. The Kerala side were without their charismatic captain Dalima Chhibber, who had picked up a knock in the previous game.

However, Sanju, who had the captain’s armband for the day, responded brilliantly. The India international received a pass from the right, set herself up, and unleashed a drive into the bottom corner.

Hans Women FC posted their second win as they beat Rising Student Club 2-1.

Hans Women FC’s 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 off the game with the higher tempo, incessantly going on the attacks in the early exchanges However, it was Hans who had the earliest chance, when Jyoti Ann Burrett knuckled a free-kick from long range. Her shot was well-placed, but it 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, switched to her left foot, and pulled the trigger. However, Hans goalkeeper Vanshika Rana got her fingertips to the ball and thwarted the chance.

Hans, however, picked up the pace in the second half, and their Nigerian midfielder Rita Casia provided them 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 they doubled their lead soon after, when Anushka Samuel broke free and slipped it past Bhowmick to double their lead.

Sradhanjali Panda scored one in injury time to pull one back, but it was too little, too late for RSC.