Football

Gokulam Kerala seal quarter-final spot with win over Mata Rukmani

Defending champions Gokulam Kerala FC maintained their unbeaten record in the Hero Indian Women's League by sailing past Mata Rukmani FC 9-0.

Ahmedabad | Defending champions Gokulam Kerala FC maintained their unbeaten record in the Hero Indian Women's League by sailing past Mata Rukmani FC 9-0 here on Tuesday.

Four goals and another Player of the Match performance from Nepal international forward Sabitra Bhandari, a brace from Indumathi Kathiresan, and a goal each from Sorokhaibam Ranjana Chanu, Dangmei Grace and Hemam Shilky Devi made the Malabarians' job look easy in the Group A clash.

Gokulam took an early lead in the fourth minute of the match when Ranjana Chanu's attempted cross from the left wing was spilled across the goalline by Mata Rukmani goalkeeper Jyotsna Bara.

They extended their lead minutes later when the tournament's top scorer, Sabitra Bhandari, collected a ball down the right flank and burst inside the penalty box with a solo run before scoring past Bara.

The floodgates opened as the defending champions pressed for more goals.

Asem Roja Devi released a perfectly-weighted pass to Sabitra as the forward took few touches before slotting past Bara again.

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