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A first-half strike from Pooja was enough for HOPS FC to secure a slender 1-0 win over Sports Odisha FC in the IWL 2023-24 encounter at the Dr Ambedkar Stadium on Friday, March 15, 2024.
Despite the win, HOPS FC remained in the fourth position in the Indian Women’s League. The IWL is a seven-team league played on a home-and-away basis and the Delhi-based team have now completed their engagements barring a match against SETHU FC. They now have a moderate tally of 16 points from 11 matches after five wins, an equal number of defeats and one draw.
Sports Odisha, on the other hand, finished at the bottom with two points from 12 matches. They failed to win a single match, drew two and lost the rest of the 10 matches.
HOPS FC were the better and more dominant team in the match. They used their physicality and pace to overpower the Sports Odisha girls in crucial moments. They also enjoyed the lion’s share of the possession as they won most of the exchanges.
For HOPS FC, Neha, Pooja and Ghanaian Fredrica Torkudzor played key roles. While Neha made good runs on the flank, Pooja and Torkudzor troubled the opposition defence with their pace.
HOPS went into the lead in the 32nd minute. A long ball was sent from the centre circle toward the penalty box. Sports Odisha goalkeeper Manju Ganjhu came off her line to thwart the danger. However, she failed to judge the trajectory of the ball and couldn’t make the necessary save. Pooja slotted the ball into an open net.
