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Eastern Sporting Union were crowned Champions of the inaugural edition of the Indian Women’s League at the Ambedkar Stadium in the Capital today, February 14 as the Bembem Devi coached side defeated Rising Students Club 3-0 to bag the coveted trophy.
Strikes from Kamala Devi (32’, 66’) and Prameshwori Devi (57’) led Eastern Sporting Union to an easy win over their opponents, in a final, which was largely dominated – both in possession and chances created – by Eastern Sporting Union.
Although both Teams tried to score the early goal to take an advantage going through the match, Eastern Sporting Union pressed onwards in the opening minutes with almost every move. Kamala Devi tried to catch the opposition custodian offguard with a cheeky touch in the 3rd minute but lacking venom her shot was easily saved.
Kamala Devi’s early attempt almost rattled Rising Students Club cage as they began to defend cautiously, committing bodies, whilst slowing down the tempo of the game. Attempts by Bembem Devi and Prameshwori Devi to foster goal-scoring chances were often nullified by the Rising Student defence.
In the 24th minute, Prameshwori Devi’s cross almost ended in the back of the net, leaving the opposition custodian wrong-footed. However, the cross floated over the net as Rising Student survived another attack.
It was a different scenario altogether in the 32nd minute as Eastern Sporting Union scored to take the lead when Kamala Devi tapped home her 10th goal of the Indian Women’s League campaign from a Prameshowri Devi cross from the right flank to give Eastern Sporting Union a solitary goal advantage.
With Kamala Devi and Prameshwori Devi pressing higher up the pitch to make things difficult for the opposition defence, Rising Students Club failed to foster any clear goal scoring opportunities in the first half as the half-time scoreline read 1-0.
Eastern Sporting Union picked up where they left off and two minutes into the second half, Kamala Devi’s cross found Kashmina clear in the box, but the latter’s shot failed to find the net and went over the bar.
Little did Eastern Sporting Union had to wait for their second goal and in the 57th minute, Prameshwori Devi played a one-two with Kashmina and scored from a narrow angle to make the scoreline read 2-0.
The second goal knocked the stuffing out of Rising Students Club and with low morale, they struggled to keep pace with their opponents. Eastern Sporting Union however pressed to take an unassailable three-goal lead and put the tie to bed. And in the 66th minute Kamala Devi did just that. The fleet-footed forward burst in the opposition box and blasted the ball into the back of the net to make it 3-0.
Eastern Sporting Union could have added more gloss to the scoreline as chances came in plenty. However, with the result already secured it mattered little as the full-time scoreline read 3-0.
Meanwhile, Eastern Sporting Union were awarded RS 1 million (10 lakhs) for being Champions of the Indian Women’s League while Rising Students Club were given R 500,000 (5 lakhs) for finishing runners-up.
Jabamani Tudu bagged the ‘Emerging Player Award’ of Rs. 75,000, Umapati Devi was awarded the ‘Most Valuable Player Award’ for Rs. 125,000 (1.25 lakh), while for finishing top scorer with 11 goals, Kamala Devi bagged a cheque R 100,000 (1 lakh).
by AIFF Media
