Gokulam Kerala FC 0
lost to
Kickstart FC 2 (Philomena Abakah, 7, Karishma Purushottam Shirvoikar, 51)
AIFF Media Team
KOZHIKODE: Kickstart FC dealt a 2-0 defeat to a Gokulam Kerala FC, who were down to 10 players, in their IWL 2024-25 match at the EMS Corporation Stadium on Saturday, April 5, 2025. This loss comes as a huge blow to the Malabarians’ title hopes this season. Kickstart scored one in each half.
Gokulam Kerala, who started the game as overwhelming favourites, missed a golden opportunity to close the gap on league leaders East Bengal. With East Bengal held to a 1-1 draw by Sribhumi FC earlier in the day, Gokulam could have reduced the gap at the top to just two points.
Instead, they remain on 26 points from 12 matches, five behind East Bengal with only two matches left to play. Gokulam will now need to hope that East Bengal do not get a win against Odisha FC on April 11. Should that be the case, the Malabarians need a win against Nita FA on April 13, and then defeat East Bengal in the last match of the league. The latter simply need three points to secure their maiden IWL title.
Saturday’s result helped Kickstart FC climb out of the relegation zone. They moved up to the fourth place in the standings with 14 points from 12 games, and extended their unbeaten run to four matches.
The match began brightly for Kickstart, who opened the scoring as early as the seventh minute with a well-constructed team goal. Captain Dangmei Grace sparked the move down the right flank before laying it off for Joanitah Ainembazi at the edge of the box. The Ugandan forward showed vision to scoop the ball over the Gokulam backline, allowing Abakah to time her run to perfection and slide the ball past goalkeeper Payal Basude.
The early goal shook Gokulam, who responded by pushing forward through their prolific striker Fazila Ikwaput, who is also the league’s highest scorer with 20 goals. However, the Kickstart defence, led admirably by Wangkhem Linthoingambi and Sanju, stayed compact and organised, denying Ikwaput any space in the box. Ikwaput resorted to long-range efforts but Kickstart’s goalkeeper Maibam Linthoingambi was alert and made a couple of sharp saves to preserve her side’s lead.
The second half followed a similar script, with Kickstart continuing to look dangerous on the break. Their efforts paid off in the 51st minute when Karishma Shirvoikar produced a moment of individual brilliance. Receiving a pass inside the box, she shrugged off two defenders before unleashing a powerful left-footed strike to double her side’s advantage.
From there on, Kickstart defended resolutely, with goalkeeper Maibam Linthoingambi putting in a commanding performance between the sticks. Gokulam Kerala’s frustration grew and their day worsened when defender Phoeby Okech Owiti was sent off. In an unsavoury moment, Phoeby appeared to shove and strike the referee.
