The Kerala outfit are also now the only Indian club in history to win back-to-back men’s and women’s national league titles. Gokulam men had defended their I-League title earlier this month while the women had to wait longer for their second title after the 2020-21 IWL season was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Defending champions Gokulam and 2018-19 winners Sethu had gone into the final matchday level on 30 points, but goals from Ashalata Devi (14 Pen), Elshaddai Acheampong (33) and Manisha Kalyan (40) took them to their second title as Renu Rani’s third-minute opener for Sethu went in vain.
The champions negotiated the whole season without dropping a single point and were a class above the rest scoring 66 goals in 11 matches — 24 more than second-placed Sethu and boasting of the meanest defence in the league which let in just four goals. Gokulam have also now recorded 21 wins in a row in the IWL, barring knock-out games.
Gokulam’s evening did not begin in the best of fashion as Renu gave Sethu the lead three minutes from the start heading in from a corner with goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan stranded. IWL top scorer Elshaddai had cut a frustrated figure in the early exchanges but made an instant impact with the ball at his feet drawing a foul from Michel Castanha inside the box.
Ashalata converted the resultant penalty to restore parity in the 14th minute before Gokulam pulled ahead in the 33th minute. Manisha got to the byline and pulled the ball back into the six-yard box for Ghanaian striker Elshaddai to score her 20th goal of the season.
The Malabarians made it 3-0 five minutes before the break as Soumya Guguloth’s cross from the left found its way to Manisha at the far post and the India international obliged with an easy tap-in for her 14th of the season.
Gokulam took the foot off the throttle in the second half, while Sethu had a couple of opportunities to reduce the lead. However, the defending champions’ game management was on point as Anthony Andrews’ side once again proved they are the best women’s team in the country by a long distance.
