It’s still early days in the Indian Women’s League, 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. The Red and Gold team was bulldozing the opposition so far in the IWL, nevertheless, the Malabarians taught them a lesson and collected all three points.
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. The defense of East Bengal, which conceded only one goal coming into this match, conceded three today which is a testimonial of the firepower of Fazila Ikwaput.
After five rounds of matches, East Bengal FC continue to lead the table with 12 points, although Gokulam Kerala FC 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. The coach of East Bengal might be disappointed with the positioning of his goalkeeper. Both the open play goals of Gokulam came from long balls to the strikers and the East Bengal defenders struggled to match the pace of Fazila.
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. As Elshaddai was struggling to convert the opportunities, Antony Andrews deployed Kenyan forward Maurine Achieng after withdrawing her in the 52nd minute.
East Bengal tried to make a comeback when resty Nanziri fired the ball from close range, however, Payal was up to the mark and saved it. When everyone thought that it would be a smooth sailing victory for Gokulam Kerala, Resty decided to change the complexity of the game. She pulled one back for East Bengal in the 86th minute, turning in a cutback from the by-line by substitute Sulanjana Raul. The defense of the Malabarins was watching the ball as there were two strikers inside the six-yard box unmarked.
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.
“The team’s victory was due to the fact that they were able to play as planned. The two-goal lead in the first half itself gave the team a boost of confidence,” said coach Ranjan Chowdhury. He added that the team’s consistent defense saved them from conceding more goals.
Gokulam Kerala is the only undefeated side now in the IWL and they lead the goals chart with 13 goals. The Malabarians are currently second in the table with 13 points from five matches. Gokulam’s next league match is against Sethu Football Club in Chennai on February 7.
