Even after the 0-8 devastation at the hands of Japanese club Urawa in their opener, India’s Gokulam FC finally scripted an amazing come-back, finishing second in their group after Japan in the AFC Women Club Championship, concluded at the Chonburi Stadium, Thailand from 6th to 12th November.

According to the tournament format Urawa FC which emerged champion from this group with 9 points, will face South Korean team Incheon Hyundai Steel in the final. The South Korean team finished at the top of the other group with 9 points.

After conceding eight goals against the Japanese team, Gokulam women bounced back, forcing Taiwan side Hualien to split points by playing out a 1-1 draw, and in their concluding group league match against Thailand's Bangkok FC The Keralite team earned a historic win with 4-3. The team's Ghanaian striker Veronika Appiah scored hat-trick while Iranian midfielder Hajar Dabbaghi scored the other for the winner.

The Malabarians fell behind thrice, and came back as many times, to defeat their rivals in the end. Veronica Appiah, Gokulam Kerala’s Ghanaian forward, scored a hat-trick to lead the Kozhikode-based side to their maiden victory in the competition.

Coach Anthony Andrew Andrews however sounded happy while speaking to Parallel Sports from Chonburi on Monday. 

Compared to Gokulam women’s performance in 2021 under his guidance, Anthony disclosed it is a better show this time. He stated, “It was a four-club tournament in 2021. This time eight teams participated in the competition. Significantly, we had experienced footballers like Aditi Chauhan, and Manisha Kyalan Jyothi Chouhan in 2021." 

He added, "But this season most of our footballers are young except the two foreigners Veronika Appiah from Ghana and Iranian midfielder Hajar Dabbaghi and we finished at the second spot in our group after Japan. The teams we played against in the group are all within the top 40 in Fifa women's rankings. So I feel it has been an achievement which will inspire Indian women's football as a whole in the near future." 

The coach also feels this performance will be a boost before their crucial competition Indian Women’s League (IWL) this season.

According to coach, Sumati Kumari of Jharkhand was the find-out of the competition. The 21-year-old striker not only scored against Hualien, but she was consistent throughout the competition.