East Bengal FC Winning Celebration during the IWL 2025 at Kalyani. Pictures by Bibhash Lodh/BS News Agency.
Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency, Kalyani, 30 December 2026: Defending champions East Bengal FC Women delivered a masterclass in attacking football, beating newly-promoted SESA FA (Goa) 9-0 in their third Indian Women's League 2025-26 outing at the Kalyani Stadium earlier today.
Ugandan forward and the Golden Boot winner of the last two editions, Fazila Ikwaput led the charge with four goals, whilst Indian international Soumya Guguloth notched a hat-trick, and Sulanjana Raul and Resty Nanziri scored a goal each to mark EBFC Women's largest-victory margin in the national top-flight league.
The match kicked off with EBFC Women asserting early dominance. Barely into the sixth minute, left-back Sushmita Lepcha sent a low ball from the deep, which Guguloth collected outside the box. She dribbled past two rival defenders, turned sharply, and rifled a right-footed shot past the SESA goalkeeper to open the scoring.
Just three minutes later, Lepcha played another long ball, allowing Ikwaput to latch on and chip it elegantly over the rival custodian for the second goal.
SESA started crumbling under pressure when, in the 18th minute, the SESA goalkeeper fumbled Guguloth's cross, leaving the 18-year-old Sulanjana to smash home from eight yards out.
EBFC Women continued their onslaught in the 22nd minute, when right-back Sarita Yumnam delivered a lofted cross towards the far post, where Ikwaput calmly stood to nod it in.
It took the Ugandan just three more minutes to complete her hat-trick when captain Shilky Devi split the SESA defensive line with a precise pass. Ikwaput rounded the SESA goalkeeper and buried the ball past the latter to make it 5-0.
Her Ugandan compatriot Resty Nanziri added to the tally in the 40th minute, carrying the ball from the left flank, evading a challenge from a rival player and firing into the far corner with the outside part of her boot. The Red & Gold Women went into the half-time break leading 6-0, having completely overpowered SESA's defence.
The second half saw the Kolkata-based club continue their dominance. In the 54th minute, Lepcha launched yet another long ball to Ikwaput, who squared it for an unmarked Guguloth inside the box, as the latter tapped in from close range.
Ikwaput grabbed her fourth goal in the 72nd minute, capping her match-winning performance.
Guguloth then sealed her hat-trick in the 86th minute, making it 9-0 and underscoring EBFC Women's ruthless efficiency in the game.
*Speaking to the media after the win, EBFC Women's Head Coach Anthony Andrews, who completed his 50th IWL match as a head coach, said*, "Everyday I keep telling the players inside the dressing room that whichever team plays against us will give their 200%. We have to combat the fatigue and get better with every game. The next game will be crucial as we'll face the current table-toppers NITA FA. We need more support from our fans in that game."
EBFC Women will next face NITA FA from Odisha on 2 January 2026, Friday.