Nita FA 1 (Rahama Jafaru 62’)
lost to
Sribhumi FC 2 (Bala Devi 11’, 25’)
AIFF Media Team
BHUBANESWAR: Two first-half strikes from seasoned campaigner Ngangom Bala Devi proved to be the decider, as Sribhumi FC edged Nita FA 2-1 at the Capital Football Arena, on Thursday, February 6, 2025, in a clash between the two newly-promoted Indian Women’s League sides. The visitors led 2-0 at the break.
India international Bala Devi (11’, 25’) moved her tally to five goals IWL 2024-25 season with her brace. Rahama Jafaru (62’) did pull one back for Nita FA, but the hosts could not draw level in the end.
Despite the win, Sribhumi remain sixth in the IWL table, but have crucially moved to within a point of fifth-placed Nita FA, who are on seven; both teams have played six matches apiece.
Nita FA began on the front foot in the early exchanges, as Jafaru came close to scoring in the ninth minute, when she headed a Yumnam Kamala Devi free-kick over the cross-bar.
Soon, however, Sribhumi’s mercurial striker Bala Devi took charge of the proceedings. Played through between the Nita FA defence lines, Bala beat her marker Manisa Panna with a nimble dodge, before coolly slotting it past the keeper to put her side in the lead.
The veteran striker struck again minutes ahead of the half-hour mark, when she spotted Nita FA custodian Malti Kumari off her line, and chipped the ball over the latter, doubling Sribhumi’s lead.
Priya Rui Das had an opportunity to pull one back for Nita FA a few minutes later, when she was faced with an open goal after Ghanaian forward Gifty Acheampong sent a low cross across the face of the goal. The ball, however, evaded Rui Das’ sliding effort.
Sribhumi could have been three goals ahead at the stroke of half-time, when Bala threaded a cross to Shibani Devi, but the latter only managed to side-foot it straight into the keeper’s chest.
Nita FA completely altered their tempo in the second half, and finally pulled one goal back around the hour mark, when Jafaru went through into the Sribhumi box from the right and slotted it past goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan.
The hosts continued to pressurise the Sribhumi defence, and could have drawn level in injury time, when Gifty’s cross found an unmarked Kamala at the far post. The former India international’s volley, however, flew miles over the desired target.
