Indian Women's League (IWL) match action between Baroda Football Academy and BBK DAV FC. (Photo courtesy: AIFF Media)
Baroda Football Academy registered a stunning 3-0 victory over Punjab’s BBK DAV Football Club on at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Saturday, January 25. BBK’s Mahima Bishnoi scored an unfortunate own goal before Sushmita Lepcha and Akanksha Kandalkar wrapped up the three points for Baroda.
The first half was quite evenly contested, with both sides fancying their chances from long range at times and coming close on a couple of occasions. However, the deadlock wasn’t broken in the half, as the score-line remained goalless heading into the breather.
The complexion of the game could have been completely different, had it not been for a moment of misfortune when in the 47th minute, a seemingly harmless cross from Sibani Sharma was deflected in by BBK’s Mahima Bishnoi as Baroda got the edge with a stroke of luck.
In the 63rd minute, a rapid transition from defence to offence led to Baroda’s two forwards, Sushmita Lepcha and Sasmita Behera combining beautifully, playing a lovely give and go between them which opened up the BBK defense leaving Sushmita with only the keeper to beat, and she did so with fine aplomb to give her side a two goal cushion.
Cruising towards a victory, Akanksha Kandalkar, in the 77th minute, added the final note to a fine victory symphony by scoring an outrageous free-kick from about 40 yards from goal, which could potentially turn out to be the goal of the season.
(AIFF Media)