IWL | East Bengal blanks Gokulam Kerala; Sethu breezes past Garhwal United

East Bengal took the lead against three-time champion Gokulam in the 36th minute through Ugandan international Fazila Ikwaput. Resty Nanziri and Sulanjana Raul found the target once each after the break to ensure the full quota of points for East Bengal, which registered its sixth straight win to tally 18 points and finished on top of the standings as the tournament reached its halfway stage.

East Bengal also has a game in hand as its fixture against Sribhumi FC was postponed due to its commitments in the SAFF Women’s Club Championship. That match will be accommodated in the league’s second phase, which is scheduled to begin in March after the Indian women’s team’s Asian Cup engagement.

Sethu FC powered its way to the second spot (16 points from seven matches) in the current standings with a 4-1 win over Garhwal United FC at the National Centre of Excellence.

After playing a barren first session, Sethu returned strongly to find the lead in the 52nd minute through P. Dhurga. Malavika P. doubled the advantage in the 60th minute before Lynda Kom Serto made it 3-0 in the 62nd for her eighth goal of the campaign. Nirmala Devi Phanjoubam found the mark in the 74th minute to increase the lead further before Esther Tingjoukim pulled one back for Garhwal in the 82nd minute.

The results (round seven): At NCE: Sethu FC 4 (P. Dhurga 53, Malavika P. 60, Lynda Kom Serto 62, Nirmala Devi Phanjoubam 74) bt Garhwal United FC 1 (Esther Tingjoukim 84); Kickstart FC 3 (Emem Peace Essien 2, 61, 90+3) bt Sesa Football Academy 1 (Aniela Barretto 17)

At Kalyani: Nita Football Academy 3 (Karishma Shirvoikar 25-og, Pyari Xaxa 55, 90) bt Sribhumi FC 2 (Anju Tamang 45+2, Karishma Shirvoikar 67); East Bengal FC 3 (Fazila Ikwaput 36, Resty Nanziri 55, Sulanjana Raul 76) bt Gokulam Kerala FC 0.