By Arka Dyuti Palit AIFF Media Team SHILLONG: Defending champions Eastern Sporting Union started on a winning note as they beat Indira Gandhi Academy for Sports & Education 3-2 in the opening fixture of the Hero Indian Women’s League 2017-18 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here in Shillong today (Monday, March 26) ESU took the lead in the 25^th minute through Kashmina before Paromita equalised in the 43^rd for IGASE. Two goals from Prameshwori in the 47^th and 59^th minute was difference maker with Sandhiya scoring the 2^nd goal for IGASE in the 48^th. Eastern Sporting Union started out strongly as the strung together a wave of attacks. Prameshwori and Kashmina combined well to trouble the IGASE backline. Sweety came close with her free-kick in the 16^thminute, which just brushed the crossbar on its way out before Prameshwori forced a save out of goalie Crystal in the 20^th. The deadlock was finally broken in the 25^th when Kashmina hit the back of the net. A goal line save by Anjali in the 31^st kept the score line intact as IGASE struggled to contain the wave of attacks. A chance for an equaliser came in the 42^nd minute when IGASE were given a penalty but Sandhiya scuffled the shot for Panthoi to make an easy save. A minute later though Paromita made the most of a goal mouth melee to make 1-1 as the teams headed into half-time. The second half began with a bang as Prameshwori struck with a wonderful strike in the 47^th minute to make it 2-1. The celebrations though were short lived as Sandhiya made up for her scuffed penalty to equalise in the 48^th. The goal vitalised the team from down South as Sandhiya, Pradeepa and Radhika gave a lot of trouble to ESU back line. Umapati Devi and Manisa Panna being forced to make a lot of crucial interceptions to keep the strikers at bay. Goalkeeper Panthoi was also kept on her toes with a couple of crucial saves off Sandhiya and Pradeepa. Then, almost against the run of play Prameshwori struck from a distance. Her long ranger bulging the back of the net in the 59^th minute. Thereafter the IGASE came close a couple of times but the ESU defenders stood tall at the back. Sulatana had a chance to put the match to bed in the 91^st but her shot went wide as the game finished 3-2 in favour of the defending champions. Eastern Sporting Union next play against Rising Student’s Club on March 28 while Indira Gandhi Academy SE take on India Rush SC on the same day.