Garhwal United FC 0
lost to
Nita Football Academy 1 (Pyari Xaxa 7’)

AIFF Media Team

KOLKATA: Nita Football Academy extended their unbeaten run in the Indian Women’s League 2025-26 with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Garhwal United FC at the National Centre of Excellence in Kolkata on Tuesday, December 30, 2025.

An early strike from Pyari Xaxa (7’) proved decisive as the league leaders tightened their grip at the top of the table.

The win took Nita FA to 10 points from four matches, comprising three wins and a draw. Garhwal United, meanwhile, suffered their second successive defeat and remain on six points after four outings.

Nita wasted little time in asserting their authority. Even before Garhwal could settle into their defensive shape, the breakthrough arrived in the seventh minute. Neha showed excellent determination down the left flank, shrugging off the challenge of Alka Indwar before delivering a teasing cross across the face of goal. Pyari, completely unmarked inside the box, met it with a crisp first-time volley to give the goalkeeper no chance.

Despite conceding early, Garhwal struggled to find rhythm in their build-up play. The match settled into a scrappy pattern, with both sides prioritising defensive solidity over attacking adventure. Nita FA were content to control the tempo, while Garhwal focused on limiting the damage rather than committing bodies forward.

Clear-cut chances were rare for the remainder of the first half, with neither goalkeeper significantly tested. Garhwal’s best moment arrived just before the break when Sanfida Nongrum was picked out at the edge of the box. The midfielder struck a fierce right-footed effort that beat the goalkeeper but crashed back off the crosspiece, much to Nita FA’s relief.

The second half followed a similar script, with the contest evenly balanced but lacking penetration in the final third. Garhwal pushed with greater intent, and Sanfida again came close to equalising, this time forcing Adrija Sarkhel into a sharp diving save to preserve Nita’s slender lead.

As the clock ticked down, Nita looked increasingly comfortable managing the game. They nearly doubled their advantage in stoppage time when Sussana Konadu rose to meet a corner, but her header was directed straight at Ribansi Jamu in the Garhwal goal.

The final whistle confirmed another disciplined and efficient display from Nita FA, who once again found a way to grind out a result.