Odisha FC secured their first-ever Indian Women’s League title with a commanding 6-0 victory over Kickstart FC on Sunday, March 24, in the 2023-24 IWL final. This triumph marks a significant shift, as it is the first time in the last four editions that a club other than Gokulam Kerala has clinched the top honors in the IWL.
Playing on their home turf, Odisha displayed their dominance from the start, much in line with their impressive performance throughout the season. They took a commanding 3-0 lead by halftime, with Pyari Xaxa netting a brace and former India U17 captain Lynda Kom completing a hat-trick. Karthika Angamuthu added the final flourish with a stunning goal, sealing the victory with a 6-0 scoreline. Indumathi Kathiresan, the team captain, played a pivotal role in orchestrating the team’s attacking play from an advanced playmaker position.
Odisha FC dethrone Gokulam Kerala to win IWL title
This achievement is particularly noteworthy considering that Kickstart FC finished third in the league, trailing Odisha by ten points. Meanwhile, Gokulam Kerala, who put pressure on Odisha until the last game, secured second place by defeating East Bengal 5-1.
Under the guidance of coach Crispin Chhetri, Odisha FC showcased consistent excellence throughout the campaign, finishing with 31 points from 12 games, with ten wins, one draw, and one loss. The team’s only defeat came against Gokulam Kerala, highlighting the fine margins that defined the title race.
Gokulam Kerala’s Fazila Ikwaput emerged as the top scorer with 13 goals, but Odisha FC demonstrated their offensive prowess with two players—Pyari Xaxa and Win Theingi Tun—ranking among the top five goal-scorers, with eight and seven goals respectively. This multi-faceted threat underlines Odisha’s strength and depth in attack, contributing significantly to their successful title campaign in the Indian Women’s League.
