East Bengal FC secure 2-1 victory against Ho Chi Minh City in their AFC Women's Champions League 2026-27 clash
The Moshal Girls win their 9th straight match in International Competitions.
East Bengal FC staved off a spirited second half fight back from Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC to secure a 2-1 win in an action-packed AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 Group B encounter on Sunday.
A penalty in the 20th minute & a brilliant individual goal from Fazila Ikwaput helped the Moshal Girls gain a 2-0 lead in the first half. Despite trailing East Bengal, Ho Chi Minh City clawed their way to a goal in the 60th minute courtesy of miscommunication from the East Bengal defenders.
The Vietnamese team tried their best to get level with the Moshal Girls, but were unable to, as the match ended 2-1 in the favour of the hosts.
Fazila steals the first half show
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The opening minutes set the tone as both sides exchanged opportunities with Ngo Thi Hong Nhung unleashing a sweet volley that struck the bar before Resty Naziri scuffed a close range effort wide.
East Bengal edged ahead in the 20th minute through Fazila Ikwaput’s well-taken penalty after Football Video Support caught Rielly Chesna handling the ball when attempting to stop the forward’s move. Boosted by the goal, the group hosts nearly doubled their advantage eight minutes later but Olivia Anokye’s piledriver from long range bounced off the top of the crossbar.
East Bengal’s dominance prompted Ho Chi Minh head coach Nguyen Duc Canh to make a double change just after the half-hour mark but the Vietnamese side went further behind before their alterations could have any impact.
Ikwaput pounced on Tanaka Hitomi’s powerful header in the 34th minute and fended off Chesna to slot past the advancing Tran Thi Kim Thanh to give East Bengal a significant lead to take into the interval.
Hopes for a Comeback
Ho Chi Minh improved after the break but were still unable to trouble East Bengal custodian Elangbam Panthoi, with Duc Canh making the bold decision to take out captain Huynh Nhu and Chesna for Dau Nguyen Quynh Anh and Chuong Thi Kieu 11 minutes into the second period.
That was the spark the team in red needed as Tran Thi Thu Xuan’s free-kick on the hour-mark caused mayhem in East Bengal’s box, Dau bravely diving for a header to pull one back for her side.
In their push for the equaliser, Ho Chi Minh left gaps at the back and were nearly made to pay by East Bengal in the 74th minute when Anokye picked out Ikwaput for a seemingly easy tap-in but Cu Thi Huynh Nhu produced an outstanding last-minute sliding block.
Despite their efforts, Ho Chi Minh were unable to find another opening before the final whistle as East Bengal held firm to claim maximum points.
Upcoming Fixtures
East Bengal will next face a wounded Hwacheon KSPO WFC of Korea Republic, who lost 2-1 to 4.25 SC earlier in the day, while Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh can expect another tough match against the DPR Korea side.
What happened in the AFC Women’s Champions League clash, East Bengal FC vs Ho Chi Minh City WFC?
East Bengal FC beat Ho Chi Minh City WFC 2-1 in their first Women’s Champions League 2026-27 clash at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.
Who were the goal scorers in the match between East Bengal FC & Ho Chi Minh City WFC?
Fazila Ikwaput scored a first half brace & was East Bengal’s only goal scorer, while Ho Chi Minh’s goal was scored by Dau Anh in the 60th minute of the game.
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