AFC Women's Champions League Preliminary Stage: Updated points table after East Bengal vs Sabah FA

East Bengal have qualified for the group stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League 

East Bengal Women’s team defeated the Malaysian side Sabah FA 2-0 in the final match of the Group A fixtures of the AFC Women’s Champions League Preliminary Stage. With this win, East Bengal FC  have qualified for the group stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League as the champions of Group A with 9 points and a goal difference of +18.

Coming onto the game, East Bengal and Sabah FC were tied with 6 points. However, a superior goal difference meant that they required just a draw, while it was a do-or-die match for the opposition. As a result, Sabah FC were attacking aggressively from their first touch. The game started with the touch of Sabah FA, and right from the first second.

But everything looked good for Sabah until it came to the final third, where they lacked finishing and struggled to find the back of the net. Childish mistakes and lack of communication meant that no goals separated either side during the break.

After a rather struggling first half, second-half goals from Olivia Anokye and Soumya Guguloth secured the qualification for the reigning IWL Champions. In the 67th minute, Olivia Anokye made a solo run from the right, beat the keeper and took a thumping shot to find the back of the net and provide East Bengal with the much-needed advantage.

From then on, the tone shifted, and out of nowhere, East Bengal are now steering the match. In the 88th minute, East Bengal doubled their advantage, courtesy of Soumya Guguloth, who seamlessly found the back of the net by taking a first-time shot from a carpet cross from the left, making the opponent’s keeper Asma just a spectator at the goal.

With this, East Bengal secured a commanding 2-0 victory against Sabah FC and reserved a spot in the group stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League. In this article, we look at the updated Group A points table after the East Bengal vs Sabah FA.

East Bengal tops Group A with 9 points

Following this win, East Bengal have topped Group A with 9 points. With 18 goals scored and none conceded, they have ended the qualifiers campaign with an unparalleled goal difference of +18. The table-top position has ensured their qualification into the group stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League.

Sabah FA, on the other hand, came too close but remain too far from qualifying to the next round. After two solid wins against Rajshahi FC and Rovers FC, the Malaysian side had to succumb to East Bengal, and they remain in the second position with six points.

After two back-to-back losses, Rajshahi FC have defeated Rovers FC with a scoreline of 3-0 and earned a consolation win. They take the third position with three points. Rovers FC, having lost all their matches, are at the rock bottom of the table with zero points and a disappointing -33 goal difference.

Top scorers of the AFC Women’s Champions League Preliminary Stage

Here are the top scorers of the AFC Women’s Champions League Preliminary Stage

• Kanyanat Chetthabutr (BG Bundit Asia) – 10 goals
• Sara Didar (Bam Khatoon FC) – 5 goals
• Olivia Anokye (East Bengal FC) – 5 goals
• Soumya Guguloth (East Bengal FC) – 4 goals
• Tohura Khatun (Rajshahi Stars FC) – 3 goals

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