HOPS FC 0
lost to
Odisha FC 2 (Lynda Kom Serto 66′, Jennifer Yeboah 84′)
AIFF Media Team
NEW DELHI: Odisha FC recorded their first win of the IWL 2024-25 season, beating HOPS FC 2-0 at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday, January 16, 2025. Lynda Kom’s second goal in two games and Jennifer Yeboah’s first finished off a HOPS side who have now suffered two defeats in a row at home.
Odisha’s young squad, devoid of the star names of previous seasons, had laboured for a point at Gokulam Kerala in their opener. Up against HOPS, who had faced a tough loss to Nita FA, they would have expected to boost their status as contenders for the season; and yet, in a sedate first half did little show that might be the real deal.
It took them till the 23rd minute to conjure a first real shot at goal, and when it came it was a weak long-range effort by Kiran Pisda, saved easily by Priti Sarkar. Odisha’s build-up play was brilliant, especially when they passed the ball in midfield, Lynda Kom, Kajol Dsouza and Grace Lalrampari linking up in triangles at every available opportunity. Their inability to find a pass in the final third, let them down. It took till the final minute of the first half for another chance to arrive, Kajol this time playing in Lynda Kom on the right side of the box. The forward drove in and let fly only to find the side of the net.
HOPS played their part well, defending in numbers and also conjuring half chances on the counter when they could. They never really put Shreya Hooda to the test, the closest chance a Gladys Amfobea volley from a corner, flying wide.
Odisha’s second half seemed to be playing to the tunes of the first, till coach Crispin Chettri decided to shake things up and introduced new signing Kashmina in the midfield. The midfielder brought greater urgency to their play almost immediately. Pisda and Yeboah spurned great chances just after the hour mark, the latter in particular drawing a sharp save from Sarkar having been played in by a brilliant Kajol through ball.
The constant pressure bore fruit in the 66th minute, when Lynda Kom gave them the lead. Played in by Kashmina’s delicate lob from the edge of the box, the forward smashed it for the first time on the bounce into the roof of the net.
Yeboah doubled the lead in the 84th minute, a long ball from Kajol setting her up for a one-on-one with Sarkar. As it was, she smartly lobbed the goalkeeper with a first-time touch, celebrating even as the ball gently rolled into the net. Odisha coasted to full time for their first victory of the season.
