Garhwal United FC 3 (Lhingdeikim 11′, Sanfida Nongrum 15′, Deepika Pal 45+4′)
beat
Sesa Football Academy 1 (Sarjida Khatun 89′)
AIFF Media Team
KOLKATA: In a battle of newly-promoted sides, Garhwal United FC handed a 3-1 defeat to Sesa Football Academy in the first matchday of the Indian Women’s League 2025-26 at the AIFF National Centre of Excellence in Kolkata on Saturday, December 20, 2025.
Garhwal United, the IWL 2 champions from last season, once again proved too strong for Sesa, who were promoted courtesy of their third-place finish in the second tier. The Delhi side had won 5-0 when the two sides met in the IWL 2 in May, and what transpired in Kolkata on Saturday afternoon in their first top-flight fixture wasn’t too dissimilar, especially in the first half.
It was no surprise when Lhingdeikim, who scored four goals against Sesa last season, opened the scoring in the 11th minute. A historic moment, Garhwal’s first top-flight goal, and also perhaps the easiest goal the 17-year-old would score all season, tapping into an open net from barely a yard out. Captain Sanfida Nongrum swung in a cross from the deep, and Sesa goalkeeper Akila came out to deal with it, albeit in vain. Joyce Larbi got to the ball first, slipping it from the by-line for Lhingdeikim to score.
Sanfida netted the second goal just four minutes later with a sensational right-footed strike from outside the box. Despite Akila diving at full stretch, the shot was way beyond her reach as the ball flew into the top corner.
For the majority of the first 45 minutes, Sesa struggled to carve out any real chances. Aniela Barretto’s rather half-hearted long-range effort sailed way over the crossbar in the 38th minute.
Soon after, Garhwal dealt another blow to the Goan side. Deepika Pal scored the third after going one-on-one against Akila. The goalkeeper blocked it at the first time of asking, but Deepika regained possession and calmly slotted it past her at the stroke of half-time.
Holding a three-goal advantage, Akshay Unni’s side seemed a bit more relaxed in the second half. Sesa began to see more of the ball, and even missed a huge chance in the 65th minute that could’ve sparked some life into the trailing side. Kenyan substitute Omita Bertha pumped in a free-kick towards the far post for an unmarked Seema Kispotta, who volleyed it over from close range.
Sesa’s first IWL goal ultimately did arrive in the 89th minute, though. However, it was too late for anything other than a consolation. Sarjida Khatun tried her luck with a 30-yard effort from the right side, and what should’ve been a routine catch for substitute goalkeeper Monika Devi Shijagurumayum, spilled through her hands and crossed the line. Monika had replaced starting goalkeeper Ribansi Jamu in the first half because of an injury, but was deprived of a clean sheet on her IWL debut with that goal.
