Nita FA 2 (Rahama Jafaru 72’, Manisha Naik 75’)
beat
Odisha FC 1 (Neha 16’)

AIFF Media Team

BHUBANESWAR: Rahama Jafaru was at the heart of a remarkable turnaround as Nita FA came from behind to defeat Odisha FC 2-1 in a dramatic IWL 2024-25 clash at the Capital Football Arena in Bhubaneswar on Friday, March 21, 2025.

Neha (16’) had put Odisha FC in the lead, but Rahama Jafaru (72’) and Manisha Naik (75’) scored in the second half to win it for Nita FA.

The win saw Nita FA rise to third in the standings with 13 points from nine matches, registering four wins, one draw and four losses. Meanwhile, Odisha FC slipped to fifth with 11 points from nine games, continuing their four-match winless streak.

Odisha FC came into the match as favourites and started with clear intent. Their attacking unit looked sharp early on, pressing high and dictating possession. It wasn’t long before they got their reward, as Neha opened the scoring in the 11th minute, taking advantage of a lapse in Nita’s defence to slot home the opener.

Riding high on the momentum, Odisha FC created more chances as they continued to control the tempo. However, poor finishing and a lack of composure in front of goal meant that they could not extend their lead. Their inability to convert those chances would later come back to haunt them.

Nita FA took their time to settle into the contest. After absorbing the initial pressure, they gradually began to organise themselves defensively and win back possession. The midfield started seeing more of the ball, and their forwards found better positioning in the final third.

The breakthrough came in the 72nd minute. A perfectly weighted pass pierced through Odisha’s backline to find Rahama Jafaru, who had timed her run brilliantly. With only the goalkeeper to beat, she showed immense composure to place the ball into the net and restore parity.

Barely had Odisha Women regrouped when Nita struck again. This time, Jafaru turned creator. After collecting the ball on the left flank, she delivered an accurate cross into the box where Manisha Naik rose to meet it. Her powerful header left the goalkeeper with no chance, and suddenly, the visitors were in front with just 15 minutes left on the clock.

Stung by the quick double blow, Odisha FC pushed forward in search of an equaliser. They threw bodies forward and tried to exploit the wings, but Nita FA held their defensive line well and remained compact in their half to notch up a win.