Sesa Football Academy 0
lost to
Sethu FC 5 (Martina Thokchom 24’, Kaviya Pakkirisamy 27’, Lisham Babina Devi 35’, Lynda Kom Serto 65’, Ruchi 72’)
AIFF Media Team
KOLKATA: Sethu FC continued their impressive run in the Indian Women’s League 2025-26, producing a commanding attacking performance to thrash Sesa Football Academy 5-0 at the National Centre of Excellence in Kolkata on Friday, January 2, 2026.
In a match that underlined Sethu’s collective strength, five different players — Martina Thokchom (24’), Kaviya Pakkirisamy (27’), Lisham Babina Devi (35’), Lynda Kom Serto (65’) and Ruchi (72’) — found the scoresheet, highlighting the depth and balance in their squad. Just as significant was the clean sheet — their first since April 2025. This was, in fact, the first time since the 2022-23 season that Sethu FC managed to win consecutive IWL matches in the same campaign.
The emphatic win marked Sethu’s third victory of the campaign, taking them to 10 points from five matches and lifting them to second place in the standings, two points behind leaders East Bengal.
Sesa, meanwhile, endured another difficult evening and remain rooted to the bottom of the table, still searching for their first point after five straight defeats.
From the opening whistle, Sethu imposed themselves on the contest. Their midfield control, sharp movement, and effective use of width consistently stretched the Sesa backline. The tempo and pace of Sethu’s passing proved too much for a Sesa side struggling for confidence, forcing the visitors into prolonged spells of defending.
Sesa goalkeeper Beatrice Nketia initially kept her side afloat with a series of saves, but the resistance finally broke in the 24th minute due to the Ghanaian custodian’s mistake.
Upon saving a strike from Lynda Kom, Beatrice held on to the ball too long for the referee to award a corner. Lisham Babina Devi floated in the corner from the left, and Beatrice misjudged the delivery, allowing Martina Thokchom to pounce and fire into the roof of the net from close range.
The goal sparked a flurry of strikes. Just three minutes later, Kaviya Pakkirisamy doubled the lead after being teed up by Lynda Kom, finishing confidently into the bottom corner. Sethu made it 3-0 in the 35th minute, with Lisham Babina Devi side-footing home following neat build-up play down the right flank.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Sethu maintaining control and pressing relentlessly. Lynda Kom added the fourth in the 65th minute, weaving past her marker before unleashing a powerful left-footed strike. The rout was completed in the 72nd minute, when Ruchi’s cross slipped through the grasp of the goalkeeper and over the line.
