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Odisha FC put on a commanding performance against IWL debutant Lords FA Kochi in their group B clash at the Shahibaug Police Stadium in Ahmedabad. A brace by Faustina Worwornyo Akpo, and a goal each by Cynthia Marcondes Dos Santos, Malati Munda and Anju Tamang were enough to give them a convincing win and put them at second place in the group.
Odisha FC’s Jasoda Munda was a constant threat down the left flank for a majority of the game and was in fact pivotal in the build up to the first goal for Odisha FC in the 41st minute. Munda dribbled past her marker before cutting inside and unleashing a powerful shot on goal. Lords FA goalkeeper, Afshan Ashiq failed to gather cleanly and the rebound fell for Brazilian midfielder, Cynthia Marcondes Dos Santos, who nodded the ball towards goal. Although Ashiq was there, and gathered the ball cleanly this time, the referee awarded the goal, having seen the ball cross the line. To make matters worse, within minutes Odisha FC doubled their lead, Ashiq again in the thick of it.
The goalkeeper palmed away Lynda Kom’s powerful freekick from distance, only to see the ball bounce off the post into the path of Bala Devi. Bala collected calmly and crossed with her left towards the far post, Faustina heading into an empty net to double their lead. The Ghanaian added a second to her tally in the 63rd minute, the goal almost a carbon copy of the first, Ashiq again gathering the header on goal, albeit behind the line.
Bala collected her second assist of the game in the 86th minute, playing Malati Munda through with a perfectly timed pass. Malati made no mistake and finished at the near post. The Odisha FC captain’s third assist came in the 89th, as she played through Anju Tamang, clear on goal. Tamang’s first time toe-poke was enough to give Odisha a fifth and the three points. Bala Devi was adjudged the Player of the Match for her dominating performance.
