IWL 2025-26 | Five out of five for East Bengal; Sethu pips Nita FA

Continuing with its strong showing in the tournament, defending champion East Bengal FC blanked Kickstart FC 5-0 for its fifth straight win in the Indian Women’s League, at the Kalyani Stadium on Tuesday.

Fazila Ikwaput netted twice while Resty Nanziri, Sulanjana Raul and Astam Oraon scored once each in East Bengal’s dominant performance that consolidated its position on the top of the table (15 points from five matches).

Lynda Kom Serto found the target twice in the second half to help Sethu FC overcome a goal deficit to beat Nita Football Academy 2-1 in another match played at the AIFF National Centre of Excellence.

Pyari Xaxa put Nita FA ahead in the seventh minute before Sethu FC made a strong comeback in the final quarter when Kom Serto netted in quick succession to secure the full quota of points for the Madurai-based team. Sethu remained in the second position (13 points from six outings) while Nita FA remained third with 10 points from six.

In the other two matches of the day, Sribhumi FC returned to winning ways by downing debutant Garhwal United FC 3-0, while three-time champion Gokulam Kerala FC was held goalless by the other debutant Sesa Football Academy.

The results: At Kalyani: East Bengal FC 5 (Fazila Ikwaput 15, 73, Resty Nanziri 45+2, Sulanjana Raul 60, Astam Oraon 62) bt Kickstart FC 0; Sribhumi FC 3 (Thoibisana Chanu 56, Anju Chanu 79, Anju Tamang 90+1) bt Garhwal United FC 0.

At NEC: Sethu FC 2 (Lynda Kom Serto 72, 81) bt Nita FA 1 (Pyari Xaxa 7); Gokulam Kerala FC 0 drew with Sesa Football Academy 0.