Bhubaneswar: HOPS FC secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over defending champions Odisha FC in a high-stakes relegation battle at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Sunday, April 6, 2025, during the IWL 2024-25 season. The match was evenly poised at 2-2 going into halftime.
Needing nothing less than a win to avoid relegation, the Delhi-based side rose to the occasion. HOPS took the lead early on when Odisha’s Kiran Pisda (13’ og) inadvertently turned the ball into her own net. However, she quickly redeemed herself a minute later, setting up Neha (14′) for the equalizer. Pooja (34’, 90′) bagged a brace for HOPS, while Pyari Xaxa (45+1’) found the net for Odisha FC.
HOPS struck first against the run of play when Gladys Amfobea sprinted down the right wing in the 13th minute and delivered a low cross. Kiran, in an attempt to clear, mistakenly deflected the ball into her own goal. Odisha responded instantly as Kiran’s cross from the left rebounded off the crossbar, allowing Neha to smash it in.
Although Odisha controlled much of the game, HOPS reclaimed the lead when Gladys sent in another low cross from the left. The ball ricocheted off the far post before Pooja tapped it in. Odisha equalized again in first-half injury time when Ghanaian forward Jennifer Yeboah slipped a through ball to Pyari, who slotted it past the keeper.
Boosted by their second equalizer, Odisha intensified their attacks after the break. Lynda Kom Serto had a couple of close attempts after the hour mark, narrowly missing a long-range effort in the 65th minute. A minute later, she was played through inside the HOPS box but was denied by a brilliant save from Odisha goalkeeper Anshika.
Despite being under pressure, HOPS remained in contention. Gladys was played through on the left and slipped the ball past Anshika, only for Malati Munda to clear it off the line at the last moment.
As the match neared its end, Gladys continued to be a creative force. In the 89th minute, she drove down the right and set up Pooja, whose shot was deflected out. From the resulting corner, a scramble in the Odisha box saw the ball fall to Pooja, who fired in the winner.
Odisha had a late chance to level in injury time when Lynda Kom set up Jennifer, but the latter’s shot was directed straight at the keeper. A last-minute free-kick, taken by Lynda Kom, narrowly missed the top-left corner, sealing Odisha’s fate as HOPS secured a crucial win.
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