History created! Young Indian footballer becomes first player to score in the Champions League!

Young Indian footballer Manisha Kalyan has etched her name in the annals of football history. The dynamic 21-year-old forward from the Indian women's national team emerged as the beacon on Saturday, being heralded as the first Indian to find the net in the UEFA Women's Champions League. This is also the first goal for an Indian footballer in the Champions League among both the men's and women's game.

Turning out for Apollon Ladies FC, Manisha marked the scoreboard against Georgia's WFC Samegrelo.

The euphoria was palpable with Apollon Ladies sharing on their social media, "Here she goes! 1st Indian to score in the UEFA Women's Champions League."

Initially, on the bench, Manisha made her pitch appearance in the 55th minute of the second half as a vital substitute. Her first scoring opportunity might have slipped by, but come the 71st minute, she made no mistake. Positioned just within the WFC Samegrelo box on the left, Manisha exhibited impeccable foresight. Noticing goalkeeper Andrea Fernandes advancing off her line, she expertly slotted the ball into the distant corner.

The match culminated in a 3-0 triumph for Apollon Ladies, propelling them into the second round.

Manisha's form has been nothing short of scintillating. A flashback to the previous week reveals her instrumental role during the UWCL qualifiers against ZFK Ljuboten, where her three assists guided Apollon Ladies to a dominant 9-0 victory over the North Macedonian team.

Hailing from Muggowal in the Horshiarpur district of Punjab, Manisha's journey to Apollon Ladies FC, a premier division club in Cyprus, began in 2022, bound by a two-year agreement.

Her career trajectory is adorned with accolades. The 2020–21 season saw her honoured as the AIFF Women's Emerging Footballer of the Year. Fast forward to 2022–23, she was celebrated as the AIFF Women's Player of the Year.

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