KRYPHSA smash Indira Gandhi Academy 10-1
Shillong, Apr 8: Defending champions Eastern Sporting Union (ESU) and Sethu FC played out a hard fought 1-1 draw in their final league stage match of the Indian Women’s League at the JN Stadium here today.
The two clubs were vying for top spot in the seven-team league, but the draw means that undefeated ESU stay ahead in first place with 14 points, while Sethu are one behind with 13.
Sethu captain Indumathi scored the equaliser in the 13th minute after Wayenbam Ranjibala Devi put the Manipur outfit ahead in the fifth minute in an intense clash that saw end-to-end action practically throughout the entire contest.
Eastern Sporting had the edge in support over their opponents as there was a small, but vocal, group of fans cheering them on, no doubt encouraged after the club got in touch with a Manipur students union here in Shillong. It was great to see after previous matches that TSR had attended were played in front of practically empty stands.
Meanwhile, KRYPHSA, the other team from Manipur, kept themselves in the race for first place with a smashing 10-1 victory over Indira Gandhi Academy for Sports & Education (IGASE) in the earlier game. KRYPHSA now have 11 points, but have a game still to play against Gokulam Kerala, so one more win would put them on top because they have the best goal difference of any team in the competition.
Four goals each by Ratanbala Devi and Bala Devi accompanied by a Dangmei Grace brace led KRYHPSA to an easy win in a one-sided match. Pradeepa Sekar scored the only goal for IGASE in the 63rd minute.
In the other game today Rising Students Club beat India Rush 2-0, with a Pyari Xaxa strike in the 37th minute and Jabamani Tudu’s 42nd minute header proving the difference.
Although the final order of the teams has yet to be decided, ESU, KRYPHSA, Rising Students and Sethu have all confirmed their places in the semifinals.
(TSR photo)
