East Bengal clinch SAFF Women's Club C'ship title

By Pramod Joshi,Kathmandu, Dec. 21: Nepal’s APF Football Club saw their dream of making history dashed as they fell 3-0 to India’s East Bengal in the final of the first SAFF Women’s Club Championship at the Dasarath Stadium, Kathmandu, on Saturday.

APF had hoped to end their long wait for silverware in women’s football, with the national side also having failed to lift the SAFF Women’s Championship despite reaching six finals.

East Bengal, the reigning Indian league champions, proved far too strong, thrashing APF to lift the maiden title. En route to glory, they remained unbeaten, kept a clean sheet throughout, and netted 16 goals to be crowned regional champions.

The Kolkata giants rode on a brace from their prolific striker Fazila Ikwaput and a header from midfielder Shilky Devi Hemam to leave APF empty-handed.

Five teams contested the tournament, but East Bengal and APF topped the group stage to book their places in the final. Jibesh Pandey’s side had gone unbeaten without conceding in the league phase, yet in the title decider their attack looked blunt and their defence crumbled under pressure.

Despite the backing of around 8,000 home fans and enjoying plenty of possession, APF failed to register meaningful efforts on target. Crucially, three defensive lapses proved costly.

Ugandan vice-captain Ikwaput broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute after sustained pressure. Earlier, Shilky Devi’s long-range effort had sailed wide in the 16th minute, while Ikwaput’s strike two minutes later was comfortably gathered by APF custodian Anjana Rana Magar. Resty Nanziri also saw two attempts thwarted in the 20th minute.

Moments later, left-back Manmaya Damai’s misjudged header while trying to clear Sarita Yumlam’s lofted pass gifted Ikwaput the chance. Her shot deflected off centre-back Geeta Rana and nestled into the net.

APF striker Rashmi Ghising’s header in the 26th minute went begging, while Renuka Nagarkoti’s effort from Mina Deuba’s pass was easily dealt with by East Bengal keeper Panthoi Chanu in the 34th minute.

Against the run of play, East Bengal doubled their advantage in the 35th minute. Manmaya again failed to clear a corner, allowing veteran defender Ashalata Devi to dispossess her and whip in a cross. Shilky Devi rose highest to nod home, leaving Anjana stranded. 

Coach Pandey hauled off Manmaya in the 38th minute, replacing her with Pratiksha Chaudhary. 

East Bengal went into the break 2-0 up, with Ikwaput denied by Anjana once more in the 42nd minute.

Any hopes of an APF fightback evaporated within seconds of the restart. Just 16 seconds into the second half, East Bengal trebled their lead. A lapse in concentration from Anjana saw Ikwaput’s tame effort from the edge of the box squirm under her arm. With her brace in the final, Ikwaput took her tally to nine goals, securing the Golden Boot.

Anjana, who had kept clean sheets throughout the group stage, conceded three in the final. APF’s forwards huffed and puffed but failed to test the frame of the goal.

For her consistency between the sticks, East Bengal’s Panthoi Chanu claimed the Golden Gloves and a prize of USD 1,000. Ikwaput, named Most Valuable Player, also bagged the Golden Ball and USD 1,000, alongside another USD 1,000 for finishing as top scorer.

The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) staged the regional club competition for the first time, with Bhutan’s Transport United FC, Bangladesh’s Nasrin Sports Academy, and Pakistan’s Karachi City FC also taking part along with the finalists East Bengal and APF.