It is the sixth edition of the Indian Womens League which is now on the verge of the Quarter Finals is set to kick off on May 16th at Ahmedabad. Sixteen clubs who participated in the group stages fought hard, but now, it is up to 8 teams in the fray to get themselves to the next round of competition.
Since the inception of the IWL, plenty of wonderful talents across the country have been finding their way to the top-division football league in India. The league didn’t disappoint in terms of the quality produced on the field since both groups were having fierce competition throughout the group stages. It is almost tough to find the contrast between them because teams finished with marginal differences in points.
Here we are taking a look at how the teams are preparing themselves for the road ahead for the Quarter Finals of this season’s campaign.
Can Kickstart FC find their way out against HOPS FC?
The first game of the Quarter Finals will be played between Kickstart FC against HOPS FC at 8.00 am on May 16th at Transstadia in Ahmedabad. The game will be a closely contested one since it’s the second time both of these teams are trying to find a mark in the IWL. Kickstart will be having an advantage on their side against HOPS because of the sheer quality of attacking threats they possess and the defensive solidity they kept throughout the group stage.
Maibam Linthoingambi Devi only conceded two goals in seven games with 5 clean sheets to her name and three of the players in the top scorers chart, Kickstart FC will be a colossal task for HOPS FC to uncover their path to the semifinals of the league.
Can the former champions find back their glory?
It’s time for Eastern Sporting Union, first-ever IWL champions to find their way back to glory as they are set to face Sports Odisha, a team sponsored by the Government of Odisha. It is their second campaign in the league for Sports Odisha and the third for Eastern Sporting Union. Group stages went well for both teams and the game will be a solid and tense one since both of them are trying to yield a victory how hard the circumstances.
Both teams have the tendency to score but also concede goals regularly which makes it difficult to predict who will triumph over the other. This match will test the mental side of the game for both teams and whoever buries the chances will seal their place in the semifinals. The match will be played at 8.00 am on Shahibaug Police Stadium, Ahmedabad on May 16th.
Sethu FC faces off against East Bengal FC
Sethu FC, last season’s runners-up, are ready to lock horns against newly formed East Bengal FC in the Quarter Finals of IWL 2022-23. East Bengal will be having a tough day on the work as they are fighting off against a resilient side that knows the league thick and thin and who are part and parcel of the league from its inception. Sethu FC finished as the winners of Group B without losing a single game with a +23 goal difference while East Bengal finished third behind Gokulam Kerala and Sports Odisha.
East Bengal is confronting a team who has conceded only two goals with their goalkeeper Anjila Tumbappo Subba, a Nepali-born player a force to reckon with having 5 clean sheets on her cards. Apart from that, Sethu FC is having some serious attacking threats at their disposals like Kajol D’Souza with 9 goals to her name. It will be a game where East Bengal need to produce everything to grab a win against former champions. The match will be played at Transstadia, Ahmedabad on May 16th at 4.30 pm.
Defending champions face tough competition!
It is the most anticipated game of the Quarter Finals of IWL 2022-23 as the defending champions Gokulam Kerala FC will be crossing swords against a tough and fierce Odisha FC side who has star campaigners at their side to fight off against two-time IWL champions. Gokulam Kerala is having a dream campaign as usual scoring 10+ goals twice in the group stage and having a striker Sabitra Bhandari, the Nepali player who is on top of the scoresheet with a mammoth 26 goals to her name with 5 hat-tricks on her cards.
Odisha FC with their star campaigners such as Bala Devi, Pyari Xaxa, Anju Tamang, and their 5 clean sheet holder Shreya Hooda who is on top of their mental strength. Someone has to take up the responsibility in the most important match of the league to discover a way out to this seal their name in the semifinals berth. The match will be played simultaneously at the same time at 4.30 pm at Shahibaug Police Stadium in Ahmedabad.
All the matches will be live-streamed on the Indian Football youtube page.
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