Kolkata, May 3: East Bengal Women FC strengthened their grip on the top spot of the Indian Women’s League points table with a 2–1 victory over Gokulam Kerala FC Women at the East Bengal Ground on Sunday evening. The match also marked the first time East Bengal women have played a match under floodlights also in India this is the first time women’s league will be played under floodlights.
It also added another historic moment at the East Bengal Ground, where the floodlights were switched on for the first time since 2019. The last match played under the lights there was an East Bengal FC men’s team match in the Calcutta Football League in 2019, and tonight the girls redefined that history under the floodlights.
But the match had another similarity, as Anthony Andrews’ girls won once again to maintain their unbeaten record in the ongoing league. Another major talking point was Fazila Ikwaput, who continued her scoring form with two more goals tonight, taking her tally to 15 goals and strengthening her position in the Golden Boot race seriously.
Within the sixth minute, both Ashalata Devi and Fazila Ikwaput recreated a moment from their previous match. Ashalata Devi delivered a precise throw-in from the left flank, which Fazila received before chipping the ball from distance into the empty Gokulam Kerala FC Women net.
In the 24th minute, the Moshal Girls created another opportunity. From the right side inside the box, Resty sent in a cross which Sulanjana attempted from the centre of the box, but Shreya Hooda was alert enough to catch the shot.
Within six minutes, Gokulam Kerala FC Women displayed a fine combination play. Emueje passed the ball to Muskan Subba, who laid it off for Asem Roja on the right, but Roja’s low grounded shot was too weak to trouble Panthoi Chanu, who collected it comfortably.
At the start of the second half, in the 54th minute, Gokulam Kerala FC Women got a close opportunity to level the score. Muskan Subba attempted a long-range shot which nearly slipped past Panthoi Chanu and crossed the goal line but Panthoi chanu saved the threat.
However, in the 65th minute, East Bengal Women FC doubled their lead through Fazila Ikwaput’s brace. Resty passed the ball from the left side inside the box, and Fazila tapped it into the net.
But within five minutes, from a right-sided corner kick by Menaka Devi, the cross floated into the box where Panthoi Chanu tried to grip the ball but it slipped from her hands, allowing Shubhangi Singh to place it into the net and reduce the deficit to 2–1 for Gokulam Kerala FC Women.
But controversy erupted in the 80th minute when Shilky Devi was shown a red card. During a tussle on the right flank between Shilky and Shilji Shaji, the final contact came from Shilky, leading to her receiving a second yellow card.
The decision sparked controversy as the incident appeared to be a fifty-fifty challenge, with Shilji Shaji provoking the situation from the beginning of the altercation, which led to feel that she too deserved some punishment, after match Anthony Andrews added they gonna appeal on shilky’s card.
However, avoiding the refeeering issue, card issue and the tussle of words between both coaches, East Bengal Women FC secured an important victory to extend their lead at the top of the table to eight points over second-placed Sethu FC Women, strengthening their hopes of successfully defending their title.
With another unbeaten performance under the floodlights, the Moshal Girls continued their strong run in the league and moved one step closer towards defending their Indian Women’s League crown.
IWL 2025-26 – East Bengal FC vs Gokulam Kerala full match
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