IWL 2020: Kryphsa drub Baroda, jump to the top of table

Kryphsa’s dream of reclaiming the top spot in Group A of the Indian Women’s League (IWL) received a big boost with an impressive 4-0 victory over Baroda Football Acadamy at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Friday.

After a plodding first-half despite Kryphsa’s ascendancy over Baroda, the opening second-half goal from Roja Devi in the 57th minute saw Kryphsa take a 1-0 lead. During the course of another chance with Anju Tamang through on goal this time, she took advantage of Afsan Ashiq’s error to give her team a 2-0 lead.

Only three minutes later, Ratanbala Devi unleashed a spot-kick in the 79th minute rather calmly to score the third goal for the team before Ranjana Chanu headed home the final goal to put the result beyond doubt. Kryphsa are now table-toppers, having amassed nine points from three outings. They will take on BBK DAV at 3 PM on Sunday, while Baroda will face-off against FC Kolhapur City at 12 PM on Monday.

Kenkre FC tighten their grasp on the second spot with six points

In the other matches of the day, second-placed Kenkre FC continued to winning ways in its Group B fixture with a 3-1 victory over Bidesh XI Sports Club. A first-half goal from Soumya Guguloth saw Kenkre forge an early lead before second-half strikes from Jyoti and Puja Karmakar bundled up three points. As the game progressed into the final lap, Stessi Cardozo slotted a consolation goal for Bidesh XI Sports Club.

It was Kenkre that dominated possession from the beginning with Jyoti attempting for a left-footed shot from the right with some excellent footwork. Baroda, however, failed to clear the danger after a quickly taken set-piece and conceded one goal to Kenkre in the 18th minute. Following the breather from Soumya, the team saw itself advantaged with a two-goal cushion in the 54th minute.

However, a breakthrough came in the stoppage time when Kenkre’s defenders were caught napping by Bidesh after Stessi headed in a cross to make it 1-3. Bidesh remains elusive of its first IWL victory of the season, having been placed at the bottom in the Group B. Kenkre FC is second with six points.