S.P. Football Academy, Thane riding on the brilliance of Delfiya Pereira and Neha Ture, both scoring a brace of goals each, charged to a fluent 5-0 win against Next Sports Academy, Palghar in a ninth-round match of the WIFA Women’s Football League played at the Cooperage Football ground on Thursday. Ritika Goveas contributed with one goal for the Thane side.
S.P. Football Academy captain and ace striker Delfiya Pereira (left) takes a shot at goal while Next Sports Academy defender Astha Tandel takes evasive action .
This is the qualifying tournament, for the AIFF Indian Women’s Football League 2021-2022.
Later in the day, India Rush SC, Mumbai was forced to share honours with Pacangan FC, Satara as they were engaged in a goalless draw.
S.P. Football Academy side was better organized and started in an aggressive fashion against the inexperienced Palghar youngsters who tried their best to put up a fight.
Captain Delfiya leading by example and the spearhead of the S.P. Academy attack drew first blood scoring the first goal in the very third minute to give her team the momentum that they maintained throughout the match.
The Next Sports Academy girls fought on gamely, but they could not stop the Thane outfit from adding the second goal scored through Ritika in the 41st minute to take a commanding 2-0 half-time lead.
After the change of ends, S.P. Football Academy continued in the same attacking form and 10 minutes into the second session hit the target to widen the lead. Neha once again found success with her second and the team’s fourth goal in the 76th minute.
Delfiya, who had opened the scoring also had the honours of slamming home the fifth and final goal as S.P. Football Academy finished on a high.
Results – ninth round: India Rush SC, Mumbai 0 drew with Pacangan FC, Satara 0.
S.P. Football Academy, Thane 5 (Delfiya Pereira 2, Neha Ture 2, Ritika Goveas) beat Next Sports Academy, Palghar 0.