KOLKATA: Defending champion East Bengal FC made a positive start to its 2025-26 Indian Women’s League campaign, registering a 1-0 win over Sethu FC at the Kalyani Stadium in West Bengal on Wednesday. Forward Soumya Goguloth scored the decisive goal in the 77th minute to ensure the Red and Gold Brigade opened their title defence with full points.
East Bengal came into the fixture on the back of their SAFF Women’s Club Championship triumph and carried that confidence into the contest. The attacking trio of Fazila Ikwaput, Sulanjana Raul and Goguloth combined well in the final third, frequently stretching the Sethu defence with their movement and sharp interchanges. Despite dominating possession for large parts of the first half, the defending champions were unable to convert their build-up play into goals.
Sethu FC, buoyed by their 2-1 win over Kickstart FC in their previous outing, adopted a compact shape and focused on counter-attacking opportunities. However, East Bengal’s backline remained largely untroubled, with goalkeeper Elangbam Panthoi Chanu enjoying a relatively quiet opening half. The hosts created a handful of promising chances, including a late opportunity for Goguloth just before the break, but the finishing touch continued to elude them as the teams went into half-time goalless.
The pattern of play remained similar after the restart, with East Bengal dictating tempo and Sethu defending with discipline. As the match moved into its final quarter, the prospect of a stalemate seemed increasingly likely. However, perseverance eventually paid off for the champions. In the 77th minute, Sulanjana Raul collected the ball on the edge of the penalty area and laid it off neatly for Goguloth, who turned swiftly and produced a composed lobbed finish over the goalkeeper to give East Bengal a deserved lead.
East Bengal had an opportunity to put the result beyond doubt late in the game when Ikwaput found space inside the box, but her effort was directed straight at the Sethu custodian. The missed chance did little to alter the outcome, as the Red and Golds managed the closing stages with composure to seal an opening-day victory.