Daijiworld Media Network- Panaji
Panaji, May 14: The Indian Arrows Women Juniors faced a tough outing in their Indian Women’s League 2 Final Round encounter, going down 0-2 against a dominant Garhwal United FC side at the Duler Stadium on Tuesday.
Leading from the front, Garhwal United’s skipper Sanfida Nongrum emerged as the star of the match, netting a clinical brace in the second half (56’, 68’) to steer her team to a vital three points, as per information from the All-India Football Federation (AIFF).
The first half witnessed a neck-and-neck battle, with Garhwal United carving out more chances. However, it was the brilliance of Arrows’ goalkeeper Munni that kept the scoreboard untouched. From acrobatic saves to timely interceptions, Munni stood tall, including a diving effort in the 18th minute to deny Sanfida’s long-range strike.
Indian Arrows showed flashes of promise with captain Julan Nongmaithem threading a precise pass to Anita Dungdung inside the Garhwal box, but opposition custodian Ribansi Jamu was quick to clear the danger.
Garhwal continued to test the Arrows defence, and in the 35th minute came agonisingly close when Deepika Pal’s effort from distance struck the upright, giving Munni a rare moment of luck.
The breakthrough arrived in the 56th minute when Sanfida unleashed a thunderous strike from outside the box, breaking the deadlock. Twelve minutes later, she dazzled once again—cutting in from the left before curling the ball into the top corner, leaving Munni helpless and extending Garhwal’s lead.
Despite trailing by two, the Indian Arrows Women Juniors fought valiantly in the final minutes. A golden chance to reduce the deficit came in the 86th minute when Valaina Jada Fernandes' close-range attempt was blocked. The rebound landed at Anushka Kumari’s feet, who beat her marker but was denied by a resolute Garhwal defence.
With this result, Garhwal United FC continue their impressive run in the IWL 2 final round, while the Indian Arrows Juniors will look to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.