Known as the “Odisha Derby,” it was a one-sided match between Odisha FC and their citymates Sports Odisha in the Indian Women’s League (IWL) at the Capital Football Arena on Sunday, February 4, 2024. Odisha Football Club established their dominance right away, winning 3-1 thanks to a strong performance.
Table of Contents
Match Overview:
It was clear from the start that Odisha Football Club, the top-ranked team, would triumph over Sports Odisha, who were fighting to stay in the bottom spot. The match demonstrated a sharp disparity in the performance and goals of the two teams, with Odisha FC leading 2-0 at the half.
First Half:
Odisha Football CLub did not take long to establish their superiority, as Indumathi Kathiresan scored the first goal in the eighth minute. Lynda Kom was left unmarked by Kathiresan’s accurate cross, which gave her the opportunity to slot the ball easily into the net. In a similar manner, Odisha Football Club controlled play and maintained a strong defensive position throughout the first half. Even with their constant attacks, Win Theingi Tun’s clinical finishing meant that Odisha FC had to wait until the very end of the half to double their lead.
Second Half:
Sports Odisha showed signs of life in the second half when Manisha Naik broke through the Odisha Football Club defense to win one back for her side. This demonstrated Odisha Football Club’s strength on defense as it was only their second goal given up all season. Even though SO played better in the last minutes of the game, Odisha Football Club did not let up, holding onto their lead and winning in the end.
Player Performances:
The dominance of Odisha FC was demonstrated by the individual skill of players like Indumathi Kathiresan and Win Theingi Tun, as well as by their group performance. Odisha Football Club won thanks in large part to clinical finishing from Tun and accurate crosses from Kathiresan. In addition, SO found it difficult to generate significant opportunities due to the strong defensive performance spearheaded by goalkeeper Shreya Hooda.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Odisha FC’s dominant performance against SO confirmed their position as Indian Women’s League champion contenders. Odisha Football Club demonstrated their dominance in every facet of the game with a convincing 3-1 victory, securing their place at the top of the league standings. Even though Sports Odisha showed signs of resiliency at times, they eventually gave in to the constant pressure from their rivals in the city. With their impressive form and strong team spirit, Odisha Club is still a force to be reckoned with in the Indian Women’s League as the season goes on.
Odisha FC Starting XI
Hooda (GK), Sanju, Astam, WIn, Lunda, Xaxa, Grace, Indumathi, Bannya, Kishan, Manisa (C)
Sports Odisha Starting XI
Adrija (GK), Ratna, Amrita, Sumitra, Munica (C), Rashmi, Manisha, Janhabi, Subhadra, Ambruta, Shibani
