Kickstart FC 0
lost to
East Bengal 2 (Ashalata Devi 35’, Sulanjana Raul 65’)

AIFF Media Team

BENGALURU: East Bengal FC earned a solid 2-0 win over Kickstart FC in the Indian Women’s League on March 15, 2025, to maintain their one-point lead at the top of the table. The visitors led 1-0 at the break.

Ashalata Devi (35’) began the scoring in the first half before Sulanjana Raul (65’) doubled the lead after the changeover to hand East Bengal the win. The Red and Golds, with this victory, maintain status quo at the top of the table, where they have a one-point lead, with 21 points from eight matches. Kickstart remain second from bottom with six points from eight games. 

Kickstart were up against it right from the start, having registered just one win all season, the second worst record in the league. And yet, they were the ones with the first opportunity. Having been played through from a brilliantly slid pass from midfield, Philomena Abakah outmuscled Sweety Devi, to drive into the box before sliding her shot wide of the far post. 

That was the early wake-up call that East Bengal needed, and soon enough, the hosts were feeding off scraps, forced to defend in numbers and pushed into their own half for most of the period. 

Linthoigambi Devi was forced into several smart saves to keep her side in the game, the best coming from a Resty Nanziri shot from inside the box. 

The league leaders eventually opened the scoring in the 35th minute via Ashala Devi. The defender curled a freekick from the left side into the box, and the ball was perfectly directed towards the far corner. Linthoingambi was deceived by the flight as it nestled in the goal. 

Their dominance continued well into the second half, and Kickstart’s goalkeeper was more often than not at the centre of attention. In the 57th minute, Elshaddai Acehampong pushed past Dalima Chhibber to make space for herself into the box before shooting to goal. Linthoigambi parried it away. 

East Bengal got their second goal in the 65th minute via Sulanjana Raul, who smartly headed in a cross from the right flank to consolidate the lead. They never looked in any trouble for the final quarter of the game. The only blemish perhaps was a seemingly serious injury to captain Sweety Devi, who was stretchered off with 10 minutes remaining.