Gokulam Kerala FC 3 (Fazila Ikwaput 2′, 35′, 52′ p)
beat
East Bengal FC 2 (Resty Nanziri 86′, 90+1′)

AIFF Media Team

KOZHIKODE: It’s still early days in the Indian Women’s League 2024-25, but Gokulam Kerala FC spiced up the title race with a 3-2 win over East Bengal FC at the EMS Corporation Stadium on Sunday, February 2, 2025.

Ugandan striker Fazila Ikwaput’s second hat-trick of the season, which took her tally to 10 goals, put the Malabarians in a commanding position before her international teammate Resty Nanziri scored a brace late on for East Bengal. However, it was too little too late for former Gokulam coach Anthony Andrews’ new side, who succumbed to their first loss of the campaign.

After five rounds of matches, East Bengal continue to lead the table with 12 points, although Gokulam Kerala are now just a point behind at 11 (three wins and two draws).

The East Bengal defence, which had conceded just once in the first four games, was caught napping after only two minutes. Fazila outpaced both centre-backs and slotted the ball past Elangbam Panthoi Chanu and into the bottom corner to put the Malabarians ahead.

Having never trailed so far this season, the visitors were desperate for the equaliser. They dominated possession, while Gokulam were happy to sit back and preserve their lead. Most of East Bengal’s chances fell for former Gokulam striker Elshaddai Acheampong, but she lacked the cutting edge. In the fifth minute, the Ghanaian headed over after goalkeeper Payal Basude failed to punch a corner. Later, Elshaddai glanced another header wide from a Karthika Angamuthu cross. Finally, on one occasion when she did head a shot on target, it was straight at Payal, who knocked it out with her fist.

At the other end of the pitch, Fazila’s game plan did not budge. She continued to lurk around the East Bengal box, hoping to get on the end of one of those long balls and capitalise on a counter. Although Ngangbam Sweety Devi, the East Bengal skipper, was able to stop her with a last-ditch challenge in the 32nd minute, nothing could be done to prevent Fazila from scoring the second three minutes later.

The Ugandan latched onto another aerial ball, but this time she didn’t waste any time and volleyed it with her laces from the top of the box. The ball landed into the bottom corner once again, leaving Panthoi with no chance.

It became even worse for the Moshal Girls in the second half when Panthoi ventured out of the six-yard box and recklessly challenged Fazila, giving the hosts a penalty. As expected, Fazila stepped up and dispatched it with ease to complete her hat-trick.

But it wouldn’t be a smooth sailing victory for Gokulam Kerala. Resty pulled one back for East Bengal in the 86th minute, turning in a cutback from the by-line by substitute Sulanjana Raul.

The Ugandan got her second in the 91st minute, chesting down a high ball in the box before squeezing it past Payal. Sandwiched between the two goals was a sensational double save by Payal to deny Resty’s header and then a shot on the rebound from two yards out, which kept Gokulam in the lead and ensured their three points.