Bhubaneswar: Odisha FC secured their first victory of the Indian Women’s League (IWL) 2024-25 season with a commanding 2-0 win over HOPS FC at the Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi, on Thursday. Lynda Kom (66’) and Jennifer Kankam (83’) scored the decisive goals in a fluent second-half display, earning Odisha their first full points after a season-opening draw against Gokulam Kerala.
Odisha FC struggled to make an impact in their opener, managing only a point against Gokulam. It took until the 23rd minute for their first real attempt, a tame long-range shot from Kiran Pisda comfortably saved by home side Priti Sarkar. Despite excellent build-up play in midfield, where Lynda Kom, Kajol Dsouza and Grace frequently combined, Odisha lacked precision in the final third. In the dying moments of the first half, Kajol created a brilliant opportunity by playing Lynda into the box, but her shot narrowly found the side netting.
HOPS FC, for their part, defended resolutely and created occasional chances on the counter. However, Shreya Hooda was rarely tested, with the closest effort being a wayward volley from Gladys Amfobea following a corner.
In the second half, Odisha found it tough to turn their possession into clear chances. But everything changed when the new signing, Kashmina, was subbed in midfield. She brought a new energy to the attack, and in the 66th minute, her perfectly lobbed ball found Lynda Kom, who fired a bouncing shot into the roof of the net to break the deadlock.
Jennifer sealed the win in the 83rd minute after a long ball from Kajol found her in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper. Jennifer calmly poked the ball past the HFC keeper, celebrating as the ball rolled into the net. Odisha FC maintained control to see out the match and claim a well-deserved three points.
