East Bengal began their AFC Women’s Champions League group-stage campaign with a 2-1 victory over Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC in Kolkata on November 1. Fazila Ikwaput scored both goals for the Indian side at Kishore Bharati Krirangan.
The Ugandan forward converted a penalty in the 21st minute and added a second goal in the 34th, giving East Bengal a two-goal advantage at the interval. Ho Chi Minh City reduced the deficit through Dau Nguyen Quynh Anh in the 60th minute, but the hosts protected their lead to secure three points.
The result sets up East Bengal’s next Group B match against South Korea’s Hwacheon KSPO WFC on November 4. Hwacheon lost their opening fixture 2-1 to DPR Korea’s 4.25 SC. East Bengal are also scheduled to meet 4.25 SC on November 7.
The three group winners, three runners-up and two best third-placed teams progress to the quarter-finals. With two group matches remaining, East Bengal have a winning start but still need further results to settle qualification.
Archive image: East Bengal supporters at Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata; not the November 1 match. Photo: Billjones94 / Yogabrata Chakraborty, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo credit: Billjones94 / Yogabrata Chakraborty. CC BY-SA 4.0.
