Indian Women's League: Misaka United breaks streak of champions Gokulam Kerala FC

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], May 4 : Defending champions Gokulam Kerala FC's 21-match winning streak in the Indian Women's League came to an end on Thursday at the TransStadia in Ahmedabad, as they were held to a 0-0 by Misaka United FC.

The Malabarians, however, remain firmly at the top of Group A with 10 points to their name, followed by East Bengal, who scored a comfortable 4-2 victory against Mumbai Knights FC at the Shahibaug Police Stadium on Thursday, to move to the second spot in Group A with nine points to their name.

The two-time IWL champions have won all their matches in the 2019-20 and the 2021-22 seasons of the IWL, followed by victories in their first three matches on the 2022-23 season against East Bengal (8-2), Sports Odisha (8-1), and HOPS FC (3-0), before the stalemate against Misaka United as per All India Football Federation (AIFF).

Misaka's Malaysian goalkeeper Nurul Mazlan was named the Player of the Match after a stellar performance between the sticks. The last time Gokulam Kerala lost a IWL match was in the semi-final of the 2018-19 season against Mpur Police (2-4), in a game where Ngangom Bala Devi netted four goals.

Sports Odisha edged Mata Rukm 1-0 at the Shahibaug Police Stadium. After this win, Sports Odisha have climbed the Group A table and are now within touching distance of the summit, being just a solitary point behind leaders Gokulam Kerala.

In the 54th minute, Msha Naik finally succeeded in giving her side a 1-0 lead. The forward crept in between two Mata Rukm defenders and finished off a brilliant cross from the left flank by Nisha. Naik also earned the Player of the Match award for her resilient performance in the attack.

In the other game on Thursday morning, midfielder Rimpa Haldar was the star of the show for East Bengal, scoring a brace in the Red and Gold Brigade's 4-2 victory against Mumbai Knights; Mousumi Murmu and Tulsi Hembram netted one each for the Kolkata giants, while captain Priyanka and substitute Namrata Thakur scored one each for the Mumbai outfit to pull two goals back in the second half.

In a high-scoring match at the TransStadia, HOPS FC registered a huge 6-0 win over Kaha FC. The victory for HOPS means they climb the table by one position, with six points accumulated over four games.

The team from New Delhi had four different goalscorers on the day with Renu R and Tannu both scoring braces. Santosh and substitute Kajal also netted a goal apiece. Santosh was named the Player of the Match.