East Bengal Women qualified for the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025-26 Group Stage after a 1-1 draw with Kitchee SC. Debuting in Asia’s top women’s club tournament, the Kolkata side topped Group E with four points, continuing their impressive rise following a dominant Indian Women’s League campaign.
East Bengal Women scripted history by sealing a berth in the prestigious AFC Women’s Champions League 2025-26 Group Stage after playing out a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Kitchee SC of Hong Kong, China in their final Qualifiers Group E clash on Sunday. The result saw the Kolkata giants finish on four points, enough to secure the top spot in the group, while Kitchee bowed out of the competition with just two points.
The match carried high stakes, especially for Kitchee, who entered the tie knowing that only a victory would keep their continental dreams alive. From the outset, the Hong Kong side displayed urgency, pushing players forward and enjoying the lion’s share of early possession. East Bengal, however, stuck to their trusted tactical approach from Matchday One, relying on quick transitions through Soumya Guguloth and Ugandan striker Fazila Ikwaput to unsettle the opposition defense.
That strategy paid off almost immediately. In just the ninth minute, East Bengal’s attacking intent bore fruit when Ikwaput created space in the middle and released a perfectly weighted ball for midfielder Sangita. With remarkable composure, Sangita slotted the ball past goalkeeper Leung Wai Nga to hand East Bengal an early 1-0 lead. The strike not only lifted East Bengal’s confidence but also forced Kitchee to chase the game from the start.
Despite trailing, Kitchee pressed hard to find an equaliser, but East Bengal’s custodian, Elangbam Panthoi Chanu, rose to the occasion with several crucial saves. Her sharp reflexes ensured that the Indian side went into halftime with their slender lead intact.
The second half, however, brought renewed determination from Kitchee. Their forwards relentlessly pressed high, and the pressure finally paid off just before the hour mark when striker Ho Mui Mei latched onto a loose ball inside the box and fired it home to level the score at 1-1. The equaliser injected fresh momentum into Kitchee’s play, but East Bengal’s disciplined backline stood firm against repeated waves of attack.
With the clock ticking down, Kitchee searched desperately for the winner that would secure their progression, but East Bengal remained resolute. Compact defending and timely clearances frustrated the Hong Kong side, and when the final whistle blew, it was East Bengal who celebrated qualification to the Group Stage.
The result capped off a memorable qualifying campaign for the Indian club. East Bengal had started their journey with a gritty 1-0 victory against Phnom Penh Crown FC in Cambodia. In that match, it was once again star forward Fazila Ikwaput who emerged as the difference maker, scoring the decisive second-half goal to hand East Bengal a perfect start.
For East Bengal, this achievement is especially significant as it marks their debut in Asia’s premier women’s club competition. The team qualified for the AFC Women’s Champions League on the back of a dominant 2024-25 Indian Women’s League (IWL) campaign. In the IWL, East Bengal registered 12 wins in 14 matches, losing only once, to underline their status as one of the most formidable sides in Indian women’s football.
Now, with their place secured in the Group Stage, East Bengal will look forward to testing themselves against Asia’s elite clubs when the draw is held on September 11. For a squad brimming with talent and determination, this milestone provides not only a boost of confidence but also a golden opportunity to showcase Indian women’s football on the continental stage.
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As anticipation builds for the next phase of the competition, East Bengal’s journey has already captured the imagination of fans back home. From the clinical finishing of Ikwaput to the reliability of goalkeeper Chanu, the team has demonstrated balance and resilience that will be crucial in the tougher tests ahead. Whether they can continue their fairytale run remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—the Red and Gold Brigade have announced their arrival in Asia with authority.
