East Bengal FC Women solidified their title defense in the Indian Women's League with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against newcomers Garhwal United FC in their second outing at Kalyani Stadium on Saturday
(December 27).
The 'Moshal Girls' kept their 100% record intact in this season's IWL, snapping Garhwal's unbeaten streak that began in their IWL 2 campaign earlier this year.
Though EBFC Women controlled the ball in the early stages, Garhwal-riding high on two opening wins-mounted a tough challenge with disciplined defending.
The Kolkata side's know-how prevailed in the end, thanks to strikes from Sulanjana Raul and Fazila Ikwaput that sealed the win.
EBFC Women pushed aggressively from the outset, generating multiple opportunities. Their pressure bore fruit in the 22nd minute as Sulanjana Raul netted the opener, timing her run perfectly to meet Soumya Guguloth's pinpoint cross and coolly beat the Garhwal keeper. This strike marked Sulanjana's 45th goal for the club in all competitions, crowning her as EBFC Women's all-time top scorer-at the tender age of 18.
Garhwal stayed resilient, absorbing pressure and forcing EBFC Women into distant shots for much of the first half. The sides headed to the break with EBFC Women ahead 1-0, the contest still tightly poised.
The lead doubled in the 63rd minute when Ugandan striker Fazila Ikwaput delivered a moment of brilliance. Pouncing on a loose ball from a set piece, she rifled a stunning strike into the top corner from outside the area, stunning Garhwal's backline and extending the advantage to 2-0.
Garhwal fought back spiritedly, with substitute Monisha Singha halving the deficit in the 72nd minute.
But EBFC Women's backline held firm, denying an equalizer and clinching the points.
Post-match, EBFC Women's Head Coach Anthony Andrews told reporters, "I am happy with the three points. We dominated the game in patches, but at the same time, we couldn't convert a lot of our chances. We need to work in these areas. That said, I understand that fatigue has creeped in. That's part of the game. We believe in what we are doing and will put up an even better performance in the next game. "
EBFC Women gear up for SESA FA Goa next, hosting them at Kalyani Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
