🟥AFC Women’s Champions League: East Bengal Earn Historic Group Stage Berth After 1-1 Draw Vs Kitchee SC

🟡Phnom Penh, Cambodia: A hot and humid Monday evening at the National Sports Complex turned into a historic one for East Bengal FC Women, as they battled to a 1-1 draw against Kitchee SC of Hong Kong and secured qualification to the AFC Women’s Champions League group stage for the first time in the club’s history.

🔥The result not only cemented their position at the top of Group E with four points, but also etched their name alongside Odisha FC as the only Indian teams to have made it this far in Asia’s premier women’s club competition. For the Red & Gold brigade, it was a night of grit, composure, and resilience—hallmarks of a side ready to test themselves against the best.

⚽ A Flying Start

The game kicked off with East Bengal showing intent. Right from the opening whistle, they pressed high, refusing to allow Kitchee time to settle into rhythm. The midfield trio ofita B Sangita Basfore, Roja Devi, and Karishma Shirvoikar knitted together sharp passes, while Soumya Guguloth stretched the flanks with her direct running.

That early dominance soon paid dividends. In the 9th minute, a moment of brilliance broke the deadlock. Fazila Ikwaput, East Bengal’s talismanic Ugandan forward, displayed superb awareness to slip a perfectly weighted ball into the path of Sangita Basfore. The India international showed her class and composure, slotting home past the Kitchee goalkeeper to hand her side a dream start.

The goal lifted the energy of the entire squad. The Red & Gold women were buzzing, moving the ball with confidence and forcing Kitchee into hurried clearances. There was an air of assurance about their play—East Bengal looked like a side that belonged on this stage.

⚡ Missed Chances Before the Break

East Bengal could have doubled their advantage before half-time. Guguloth twice found herself in promising positions but fired wide, while Ikwaput almost turned provider again with a teasing cross that narrowly missed its target.

The Kitchee defence, unsettled by East Bengal’s quick transitions, survived those waves of attack. At the interval, Andrews’ side led 1-0, but there was a sense that the missed opportunities might come back to haunt them.

🔄 Kitchee Fight Back

As the second half began, the match flipped on its head. Kitchee emerged with renewed urgency, pushing bodies forward and testing the discipline of East Bengal’s defence. The Red & Golds, who had dictated the first half, suddenly found themselves pegged back.

The pressure finally told in the 59th minute. A quick move down the right flank created space, and forward Ho Mui Mei pounced on a defensive lapse, tucking the ball past goalkeeper Sowmiya Narayanasamy. The equaliser was a blow—it not only restored parity but also handed momentum firmly to the Hong Kong side.

For the next ten minutes, East Bengal had to weather a storm. Sowmiya was called into action with two sharp saves, while Ashalata Devi and Sweety Devi marshalled the backline with authority, blocking shots and clearing danger.

🟡 Holding Firm

What stood out in the final half-hour was East Bengal’s maturity. Instead of panicking after conceding, they dug deep, closed down spaces, and looked for opportunities on the counter. Guguloth nearly restored the lead in stoppage time, racing into the box and unleashing a shot that whistled just wide of the post.

When the final whistle blew, the scoreboard read 1-1, but the result carried far greater weight than the numbers suggested. For East Bengal, the draw was as good as a victory—it confirmed their place in the group stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025-26, a monumental achievement for the club and Indian women’s football.

📊 Group E Standings

East Bengal FC – 4 points (Qualified)

Kitchee SC – 2 points

Phnom Penh Crown FC – 0 points

🔥 From the Dugout

Head Coach Anthony Andrews summed up the emotions of the night:

“We dedicate this qualification to all East Bengal and Indian football fans who have consistently supported us. I am proud of my team. However, we should have done better in front of the goal. The challenge will be greater as we now compete against the elite clubs of Asian women’s football. We will analyse our mistakes and rectify them as we prepare for the next round.”

🌟 More Than Just Qualification

This was more than just a football match. It was a milestone moment for East Bengal Women—an assertion of their place on the Asian stage. For years, Indian women’s football has fought for recognition and opportunity, and nights like these are powerful reminders of what is possible.

By advancing to the group stage, East Bengal will now face some of Asia’s best clubs. The road ahead will be demanding, but this qualification has already ensured the team’s name will be remembered in the chronicles of Indian football history.

As the players walked off the pitch, arms aloft, the emotions were clear: pride, relief, and a sense of destiny fulfilled. The Red & Gold women had arrived, and the journey was just beginning.