IWL 2026-27: Updated points table, most goals after East Bengal FC vs Gokulam Kerala FC
Fazila Ikwaput’s strike seals the game for the Moshal Girls at Kalyani
Defending champions East Bengal FC opened their title defence the hard way and still came away with three points.
Fazila Ikwaput struck in second-half stoppage time to beat three-time champions Gokulam Kerala FC 1-0 in the opening match of the 2026-27 Indian Women’s League.
How it unfolded
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East Bengal controlled much of the first half. Fazila set up Hemam Shilky Devi in the 20th minute, but her effort went over the bar. Gokulam goalkeeper Shreya Hooda then denied Resty Nanziri one-on-one, and the sides went in at 0-0.
The second half stayed tight. Naorem Priyangka Devi hit the post with a header from a corner, and Hooda kept out Kayenpaibam Anju Chanu from point-blank range.
Gokulam threatened mainly through Shilji Shaji and Vanessa Mbinho Chikupila, but never found a way through. The winner came when Rimpa Haldar sent Fazila clear, and she finished past Hooda.
East Bengal FC sits atop the table
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Bengal FC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 2 | Garhwal United FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | HOPS FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Juba Sangha FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Kickstart FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Nita FA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Sethu FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Gokulam Kerala FC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
What it means for the Moshal Girls
East Bengal lead on three points and a +1 goal difference, but the lead is one match deep. Six teams are still on zero games. The gap is the size of a single result, and every other side can overtake East Bengal within a week.
The result still says something about both sides. East Bengal created enough in 90 minutes to win more comfortably, and they needed a late goal because of Hooda’s saves. Gokulam defended with discipline but did not trouble the East Bengal goal in any way, the report records.
Their first job is to find some attacking output before they travel to face Sethu on 20 November. They get a direct rematch with East Bengal on 18 December.
What’s next
The other six sides begin Saturday, when Kickstart FC Karnataka meet Sethu Madurai at Kalyani. HOPS FC and Juba Sangha FC, the two promoted clubs, are still waiting to make their debuts.
They open on 17 November, when they face each other. Nita FA and Garhwal United play on 16 November.
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