In a thrilling encounter in the Indian Women's League (IWL), Kickstart FC fought back from a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw against Sreebhumi on Tuesday. The match, held at the Bangalore Football Stadium, saw Sreebhumi take an early lead through a brace from striker Priyanka, putting them 2-0 ahead by the 30th minute.
First Half Dominance by Sreebhumi
Sreebhumi started strongly, controlling possession and creating several chances. Priyanka opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a clinical finish from inside the box. She doubled the lead in the 28th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error to slot home. Kickstart FC struggled to find their rhythm and went into halftime trailing by two goals.
Second Half Comeback
Kickstart FC came out with renewed energy in the second half. Coach Priya made tactical adjustments, bringing on fresh legs to increase attacking pressure. The breakthrough came in the 55th minute when Sandhiya scored a brilliant goal from a free-kick, curling the ball over the wall and into the top corner. The goal gave Kickstart FC a lifeline and shifted the momentum.
Indumathi then leveled the score in the 72nd minute, finishing off a well-worked team move with a powerful shot from the edge of the area. Sreebhumi tried to regain the lead but were unable to break down a resolute Kickstart defense. The match ended 2-2, with both teams sharing the points.
Key Performances
- Priyanka (Sreebhumi): Scored two goals but was left frustrated by the comeback.
- Sandhiya (Kickstart FC): Her free-kick goal was a turning point in the match.
- Indumathi (Kickstart FC): Scored the equalizer and was influential in midfield.
The draw keeps Kickstart FC in the middle of the IWL table, while Sreebhumi remains in the top half. Both teams will look to build on this performance in their upcoming fixtures.
