East Bengal FC Clinches Indian Women's League Title with Dominant Performance
East Bengal FC Triumphs in IWL 2025-26
East Bengal FC celebrated their victory in the Indian Women's League (IWL) 2025-26, successfully defending their title with a 2-0 win over Nita Football Academy on Tuesday. Earlier, Gokulam Kerala FC achieved a narrow 1-0 victory against Sribhumi FC, while Sethu FC and Sesa Football Academy ended their match in a 1-1 draw, according to a release from the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
League Standings After Matchday 12
Following the completion of Matchday 12, East Bengal FC leads the table with 33 points. The standings are as follows:
| Position | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Bengal FC | 33 |
| 2 | Sethu FC | 23 |
| 3 | Kickstart FC Karnataka | 19 |
| 4 | Nita Football Academy | 16 |
| 4 | Gokulam Kerala FC | 16 |
| 8 | SESA Football Academy | 3 |
East Bengal's Title Victory
In front of their home crowd, East Bengal FC showcased their dominance with a 2-0 win against Nita Football Academy. They established control early in the match, scoring the first goal in the 25th minute. Soumya Guguloth netted the opener after receiving a long ball from Ashalata Devi.
Maintaining their lead into the second half, East Bengal pressed for more goals. Their efforts bore fruit in the 65th minute when a brilliant team play culminated in Soumya scoring her second goal after skillfully maneuvering past a defender and the goalkeeper. The team continued to threaten, with Sulanjana nearly scoring again, hitting the crossbar in the dying moments of the match.
Nita FA struggled to mount any significant attacks, and their frustration was evident when Nishima Kumari received a yellow card in the 72nd minute. To manage the game’s final moments, East Bengal made strategic substitutions, bringing on Rubina Khatun and Shrabani Murmu late in stoppage time. Soumya Guguloth was awarded Player of the Match for her outstanding performance.
Gokulam Kerala's Narrow Win
In another match, Gokulam Kerala FC edged past Sribhumi FC with a 1-0 victory at the East Bengal Ground. The visitors were more aggressive in the first half, and their persistence paid off just before halftime when captain Emueje Ogbiagbevha scored in the 42nd minute.
The second half saw Sribhumi FC increase their efforts to equalize, but they found it difficult to penetrate Gokulam's solid defense. Frustration grew among the hosts, leading to yellow cards for Toijam Thoibisana Chanu and Mousumi Murmu. Gokulam expertly managed the closing minutes, securing the win and earning Emueje Ogbiagbevha the Player of the Match title.
Sethu and SESA's Draw
Sethu FC and SESA Football Academy played to a 1-1 draw in a closely contested match at the National Centre of Excellence. Sethu took an early lead in the 9th minute with a goal from S Lynda Kom.
However, SESA responded well in the second half, equalizing in the 59th minute thanks to Maurine Achieng's crucial goal. Despite both teams pushing for a winner, the match concluded in a stalemate, with Achieng named Player of the Match.
Kickstart FC's Close Victory
Kickstart FC Karnataka secured a narrow 1-0 win against Garhwal United FC in a tightly fought match. The decisive moment came just before halftime when Aruna Bag scored in the 41st minute.
In the second half, Garhwal United pressed for an equalizer but could not breach Kickstart's defense. Kickstart made tactical substitutions to manage the game's final moments, ensuring their victory and earning Aruna Bag the Player of the Match accolade.