Two hat-tricks help ESU rout JIT

by FC Admin January 29, 2017

NEW DELHI: It’s not every that you get to see two Players scoring two hat-tricks in a single match. The inaugural day of the Indian Women’s League, however, was different.

National Team striker Kamala Devi and Kashmina, her partner upfront scored a hat-trick each as Eastern Sporting Union were off to a convincing start when they defeated Jeppiar Institute of Technology FC 7-1 to register full points.

The winners lead 1-0 at the half-time, and if you add the two hat-tricks (in the match) to Sasmita Malik’s hat-trick in the opening match of the Championship which was held earlier in the day, we witnessed three hat-tricks on the opening day itself.

Kamala Devi scored a hat-trick against JIT.

Kamala who was adjudged the Player of the match said that “it feels nice to score goals in the opening match itself.” She won Rs. 5000 for her performance.

“The win makes us more confident. This will be an intense battle. I need to thank all my teammates for keeping the supply line flowing all throughout,” she said.

The first goal came on the stroke of half-time, Kamala Devi placing her right footer to perfection digging it to the deep right corner.

The goal apart, Eastern Sporting Union stayed dominant all throughout the first-half. They pushed back JIT into their own half and quite a number of times sneaked in past the last line of defence. But with Kashmina and Kamala fumbling inside the box, ESU had to wait.

Changing over, JIT, responded with an exceptional counter-attack but ESU survived as the ball hit Goalkeeper Panthoi’s legs and rolled out.

But ESU were quick to regroup. With the JIT defence playing a high line of defence, Kamala Devi held back her run for that split second and then had all the time in the world to slot it home.

However, JIT reduced the margin the very minute itself – the tireless Sandhya beating the onrushing Panthoi for speed and managing to tap it in into the empty net.

Kashmina made it 3-1 in the 71^st minute – her delectable keeping Nathiya guessing.

Kashmina’s hat-trick propelled ESU to a convincing 6-1 win over JIT.

Understanding that the opposition’s steam may have run out, ESU became hungry for more. In the 77^th minute, Premi Devi, manning the midfield with the legendary Bembem Devi with elan, preferred to leap above all to head it in.

Kamala completed the hat-trick in the 83^rd minute – getting past a couple of defenders and slotting it home.

Kashmina scored her second in the 88^th minute and then followed it up enabling her to complete her hat-trick in the 90^th minute.

Jeppiaar Insitute of Technology FC Women 1 (Sandhya 63^rd) lost to Eastern Sporting Union 7 (Kamala Devi – 44^th and 62^nd, 83rd, Kashmina – 71^st, 88^th and 90^th, Premi Devi – 77^th,)