Nita Football Academy 1 (Neha 40’)
drew with
Gokulam Kerala FC 1 (Cidalia Daniel Cuta 46’)

AIFF Media Team

KALYANI: Gokulam Kerala FC and Nita FA shared the spoils as they played out a 1-1 draw in their opening fixture of the 2025-26 Indian Women’s League at the Kalyani Stadium in Kalyani, West Bengal, on Saturday, December 20, 2025.

Three-time champions Gokulam Kerala began the contest on the front foot and created the first clear opening of the match. Muskan Subba threaded a neat pass to Cidalia Daniel Cuta at the edge of the penalty area, and the forward cleverly flicked the ball into the path of an unmarked Priyadharshini. However, the attacker failed to make the most of the opportunity as her effort was directed straight at Nita FA goalkeeper Adrija Sarkhel.

Priyadharshini was again at the centre of the action moments later when she rose to meet a cross inside the box, but her header drifted narrowly wide. Gokulam continued to probe, with Cidalia also testing her luck from long range, only to see Adrija stand firm once again with a confident save.

After weathering the early pressure, Nita FA slowly grew into the match and began to enjoy longer spells of possession. Their patience was rewarded in the 40th minute when Neha produced a moment of quality to break the deadlock. Receiving the ball just outside the penalty area, she danced past Laishram Rejiya Devi before unleashing a looping effort that sailed over Gokulam goalkeeper Sowmiya N and dipped into the net, giving Nita FA a 1-0 lead heading into the interval.

Gokulam pushed hard for an equaliser before the break and went close twice in quick succession. Shubhangi Singh forced a save from Sarkhel with her first attempt, while her follow-up effort struck the post, leaving Gokulam frustrated as they went into half-time trailing.

The Malabarians wasted little time in restoring parity after the restart. Just a minute into the second half, Remi Thokchom delivered a low cross into the box, and Cidalia Daniel Cuta timed her run perfectly to connect cleanly and steer the ball into the net, making it 1-1 in the 46th minute.

Both teams searched for a winning goal in an open second half. Nita FA came agonisingly close when Neha’s floated cross rattled the crosspiece, while Gokulam continued to apply pressure without finding a decisive breakthrough. In the end, neither side could add to the scoreline, as the match ended level, with both teams settling for a point in their league opener.