Kickstart FC 1 (Joanitah Ainembazi 70’)
drew with
Odisha FC (Lynda Kom Serto 82’)
AIFF Media Team
BENGALURU: Defending champions Odisha FC managed to snatch a 1-1 draw against a winless Kickstart FC in a dramatic Indian Women’s League 2024-25 encounter at the Bangalore Football Stadium, on Friday, February 7, 2025.
The visitors neutralised Ugandan Joanitah Ainembazi’s 70th minute goal for Kickstart FC with a stunning late equaliser from Lynda Kom, denying the home side their first win of the season.
Kickstart FC, despite their energetic and creative play, remained in the seventh spot in the standings with just three points after six matches. They displayed a dominant performance throughout the game but were let down by their finishing and the brilliance of Lynda Kom’s strike.
The draw added a point for Odisha FC, keeping them in third place. They now stand with 11 points from six games, trailing leaders East Bengal and second-placed Gokulam Kerala.
The match commenced with both teams adopting a cautious approach, focusing more on maintaining possession and avoiding early mistakes.
Kickstart FC, desperate for a win, slowly started to assert themselves, managing to hold a greater share of possession and generating several scoring opportunities. However, their inability to convert these chances in the opening half kept the game level, with Odisha’s goalkeeper Shreya Hooda making key saves to deny Ainembazi.
The breakthrough came after the interval when Ainembazi made amends for her earlier misses. In the 70th minute, she was perfectly positioned to meet a precise low cross from the left, steering the ball past goalkeeper Shreya Hooda to give Kickstart FC the lead. This goal injected a burst of energy into the game, with Kickstart FC looking likely to add to their tally.
The hosts appeared on the verge of doubling their lead in the 80th minute. Karishma Shirvoikar found herself one-on-one with the goalkeeper following a slick passing move, but her finish was off the mark as she squandered a golden opportunity to secure the win.
Refusing to succumb to the pressure, Odisha FC mounted a comeback, intensifying their attacks as the clock wound down. Their persistence paid off in the 82nd minute when Lynda Kom received a cross in the penalty area. Demonstrating composure and skill, she controlled the ball and unleashed a thunderous strike into the net to level the scoreline.
In the match’s final moments, Odisha FC nearly completed a dramatic turnaround. Neha and Eliane Bodolo both struck the woodwork in quick succession, leaving Kickstart FC to breathe a sigh of relief as the referee blew the whistle.
