Kolkata, April 27: Fazila Ikwaput’s stunning hat-trick propelled the current champions, East Bengal FC, to a 3-1 victory against Shreebhumi FC in the Indian Women’s League (IWL) 2025-26 on Monday. The match, held at the East Bengal Ground in Kolkata, solidified East Bengal’s position at the top of the league standings.
Ik waput’s hat-trick earned her team three crucial points, bringing the ‘Moshall Girls’ to 21 points after seven matches. The Ugandan striker has now scored 54 goals in the IWL, surpassing Ngangom Bala Devi, who has 51 goals, and is now the second-highest scorer in the tournament, trailing only Sabitra Bhandari with 60 goals. Shreebhumi’s lone goal came from Rimpa Halder.
East Bengal dominated the match from the start. Ik waput initially found the net early on, but the goal was disallowed due to an offside call. The Ugandan player remained a constant threat to the opposing team.
The first goal of the match came in the 37th minute. A long pass intended for Ik waput was misjudged by Toijam Thoibisana Chanu, who attempted to clear it with her head. The ball fell directly to Ik waput, who calmly dribbled past Monalisha and slotted it into the net.
Just a minute after the match resumed (46th minute), East Bengal scored again. Ik waput surged forward and delivered a precise shot into the bottom right corner, extending the lead to 2-0.
The home team tightened their grip on the match, pushing Shreebhumi back into their half. The visiting team struggled to maintain possession, although Rimpa’s cross in the 55th minute nearly reached Dangmei Grace, only to be intercepted by Panthoi. Three minutes later, taking advantage of a clearance error by Abena Anoma, Dangmei unleashed a powerful shot, but it sailed over the goal.
In the 60th minute, Ik waput completed her hat-trick. Under pressure, she skillfully maneuvered the ball past Monalisha and found the net again, making it 3-0. Shreebhumi attempted to apply pressure for a brief period but failed to create any clear scoring opportunities.
On the other hand, in the 67th minute, Ik waput nearly scored a fourth goal alongside Sulanjana Raul, but Monalisha made an impressive save. East Bengal’s defense faced little trouble, as Shreebhumi’s attacks lacked coordination.
In the 80th minute, taking advantage of a midfield error, the visiting team managed to score, reducing the deficit. Neimerkapam Arena Devi advanced with the ball and passed it to Rimpa, who skillfully found the net, marking only the second goal against East Bengal in this season’s league. This consolation goal did not significantly impact the match’s outcome. Thanks to Ik waput’s precise finishing and consistent dominance, East Bengal secured a remarkable victory.
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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