Odisha FC made a winning debut in the 1st AFC Asian Women Champions League 2024-25, trouncing Lion City Sailors FC of Singapore 4-1 in a Preliminary Round Group-B match at the Prince Mohammed Stadium in Zarqa, Jordan today. Serto Lynda Kom was the main architect of the Odisha FC, scoring a brace.

It was a tightly contested affair in the opening minutes but the Bhubaneswar-based Odisha FC gradually seized control and took the lead in the 20th minute through an own goal by Dorcas Chu of Lion City.

However, the Singapore team came back fighting and equalised in the closing seconds of the half through Raeka. After a slow start to the second half, the game came alive just before the hour mark as Kom showed her quality with strikes in the 54th and 57th minutes, before Syazwani Ruzi conceded an own goal in the 88th minute as the Odisha team completed the win in style.

A total of 21 teams are competing in the AFC Women Champions League, which is being conducted in three phases. The 13-team Preliminary Round will be followed by Group Stage, and Knockout stage.

The 18 member Odisha FC team includes two foreign (Ibrahim Maryam Juke and Kankam Yeboah) and two Odisha players (Pyari Xaxa and Sulekha Kanhar. Odisha FC will play their second and last Group-B tie against Etihad Club of Jordan on August 31.

ODISHA FC WOMEN TEAM: Goalkeepers: Shreya Hooda, Anshika, Aisha Ghatualo. Defenders: Arifa Zaheer, Kretina Sangma, Ibrahim Maryam Juke (Nigeria), Nimita Gurung, Kajal Kantiwal, Nishka Prakash, Sulekha Kanhar. Mid-fielders: Grace Hauhnar, Kajol DSouza, Kiran Pisda. Forwards: Serto Lynda Kom, Pyari Xaxa, Jennifer Kankam Yeboah (Ghana), Aishwarya Arunrao Jagtap, Neha Sillay. Head Coach: Crispin Chettri.
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PHOTO: Odisha FC forward Serto Lynda Kom celebrates with teammate Pyari Xaxa after scoring a goal against Lion City Sailors FC of Singapore in their opening match of the AFC Asian Women Champions League in Zarqa on 25 August 2024.