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In their last group match, Odisha FC were up against Sethu FC at the TransStadia in the Indian Women’s League on Saturday. The match ended in a goalless draw.
Both sides were evenly matched throughout the match, both missing multiple opportunities to take the lead, and failing to apply the finishing touches. Despite creating multiple efforts, Juggernauts were held to a stalemate by Sethu FC, who finished on top of Group B with 17 points, while Odisha FC stood third with 16 points.
The Juggernauts first penetrated their opponents defence in the 19th minute of the game, with prolific centre forward and captain of the India Women’s Football team, Bala Devi took a shot at the goal from a distance, but was straight to the keeper. In the next minute, defender Ngangbam Sweety Devi found Anju Tamang with a beautiful deep cross by switching the flank. Anju then found Jasoda Munda at the end of an inviting curler, but the keeper claimed the ball preventing any scoring opportunity for the Odisha FC.
Just minutes before the half-time, Anju pounced onto a loose ball and crossed it into the box to find Bala Devi, whose attempt just went inches wide. After putting more pressure on their opponents, there was another goal opportunity in the 40th minute when Anju headed the ball and it beat the keeper but the goal was disallowed as Anju was at an offside position when she got the ball.
In the second half, Odisha FC captain Bala Devi tried to lob the ball over the keeper but couldn’t get the ball in back of the net. In the 69th minute, Pyari Xaxa came on for Bala. With both the teams making ample number of opportunities, the match ended in a goalless draw. For her superb all-round performance, Odisha FC’s Jasoda Munda was named the player of the match.
The next round in the Hero Indian Women’s League will be the quarter-finals, which start on Tuesday. Kickstart FC will be up against HOPS FC, while Sports Odisha will play Eastern Sporting Union, Sethu FC will lock horns against East Bengal and Gokulam Kerala will be up against Odisha FC.
