Kickstart Karnataka FC Women 1-1 Sethu FC Women: Entertaining Draw in Bengaluru

The Indian Women’s League served up an entertaining 1-1 draw between Kickstart Karnataka FC Women and Sethu FC Women at the Bangalore Football Stadium on May 18, 2026. Both sides created several chances, but a share of the spoils was a fair reflection of the contest.

Match Story

Sethu FC took the lead in the 23rd minute through a clinical finish from striker Priya Devi. A long ball over the top found Priya, who used her pace to race past the Karnataka defense and coolly slot home past advancing goalkeeper Shreya Nair.

Kickstart responded well and equalized just before halftime. Midfielder Anjali Singh curled a beautiful free kick from 25 yards into the top corner, leaving Sethu keeper Sunita Malhotra rooted to the spot. The set-piece goal was a moment of individual brilliance.

Second Half Battle

The second half was an open affair with both teams pushing for a winner. Kickstart’s winger Kavita Rani hit the crossbar in the 58th minute, while Sethu’s forward Rupali D’Souza missed a one-on-one chance in the 72nd minute. The last ten minutes saw fatigue set in, and the match ended with the scoreline unchanged.

Standings Impact

The draw leaves Kickstart Karnataka in fifth place on 16 points from 11 matches, while Sethu FC climb to fourth with 18 points. Both teams remain in the race for a playoff spot, but they need to convert draws into wins in the final few rounds.

Post-Match Quotes

Kickstart head coach Ramesh V. said: “We showed character coming back from a goal down. The free kick was world-class, but we need to be more clinical in front of goal.” Sethu FC’s captain Sandhya Kumari added: “We’re disappointed not to hold the lead, but a point away from home is not a bad result.”