Crested Cranes vice-captain, Fazila Ikwaput, delivered a match-winning performance for Gokulam Kerala FC, scoring twice in a commanding 3-1 victory over defending champions Odisha FC in the Indian Women’s League (IWL) on Saturday.
Her brace took her season tally to 15 goals, further cementing her status as one of the league’s most lethal strikers.
Ikwaput, who has been a key figure for both club and country, opened the scoring early before sealing the win with another clinical finish in the second half.
Her attacking prowess has been instrumental in Gokulam’s resurgence, with the team now winning six consecutive matches after a slow start to the season.
The victory keeps them in the title race, sitting second on the table with 20 points from eight matches, just one behind leaders East Bengal.
Odisha FC struggled to contain Ikwaput’s relentless attacking threat, and their woes deepened when Pyari Xaxa inadvertently scored an own goal.
Substitute Neha managed a consolation goal for the hosts, but it was not enough to stop Gokulam’s momentum.
Ikwaput’s performances in India continue to highlight her growing reputation on the international stage.
As vice-captain of the Crested Cranes, she has been a driving force in Ugandan women’s football, and her goal-scoring exploits in the IWL only reinforce her importance to both club and country.