East Bengal FC Women 0-2 4.25 SC: Key takeaways from AWCL 2026-27 clash

The Moshal Girls have scripted history.

East Bengal FC Women scripted history by becoming the first Indian club to qualify for the knockout stages of the AFC Women’s Champions League, despite suffering a 0-2 defeat against DPR Korea’s 4.25 SC in their final Group B fixture of the 2026-27 campaign at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Saturday, November 7, 2026.

4.25 SC finished at the top of Group B with nine points, followed by Korea Republic’s Hwacheon KSPO WFC on six points. East Bengal, who narrowly missed out on a quarter-final berth last season due to an inferior goal difference, secured qualification this time as one of the two best third-placed teams across all three groups.

The Moshal Girls’ crucial 2-1 victory over Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City WFC in their opening fixture proved decisive in securing their historic quarter-final qualification. The knockout-stage matches are scheduled to take place on March 27 and 28, 2027.

The quarter-final draw will be conducted at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on December 3. East Bengal will be unseeded and could face one of three potential opponents: defending champions Naegohyang Women’s FC of DPR Korea, Group C winners PFC Nasaf of Uzbekistan, or Melbourne City FC of Australia, who qualified as the best second-placed team.

Let’s take a look at the key takeaways from the Moshal Girls’ historic qualification despite their defeat against 4.25 SC!

East Bengal Women make history with quarter-final qualification.

Despite the defeat, East Bengal FC Women became the first Indian club to qualify for the knockouts of the AFC Women’s Champions League.

The Red & Gold Women secured their historic quarter-final qualification on home soil as one of the two best third-placed teams, finishing the group stage with one win from three matches and a goal difference of -4. They became the first Indian club to reach the knockout stages of the continental competition, marking a significant milestone for Indian women’s football.

This achievement also marks a major milestone for the club, Indian football and the entire Indian women’s football fraternity. East Bengal’s historic qualification will inspire more young girls to take up football and encourage other clubs to establish and field their own women’s teams in the future. This is a significant step forward for the club and highlights the growing competitiveness of Indian women’s football on the Asian stage.

Early goals prove costly for the Moshal Girls against 4.25 SC.

The North Korean outfit, 4.25 SC, made an early impact and rocked the East Bengal defence when Han Jin Hong found the back of the net in the second minute of the contest.

The early goal came as a major setback for the IWL champions, East Bengal FC, setting the tone for the remainder of the match. The North Korean outfit showcased its attacking prowess while maintaining a compact defensive shape to keep the Moshal Girls at bay.

Oh Sol Song further extended 4.25 SC’s advantage in the 43rd minute, scoring just before half-time to give her side a two-goal cushion. Anthony Andrews’ side failed to recover from the 2-0 deficit and suffered their second defeat in the AWCL 2026-27 group stage.

Anthony Andrews must address defensive and attacking shortcomings ahead of the quarter-finals.

Despite the 0-2 defeat against 4.25 SC, the Moshal Girls qualified for the knockout stages, but there are a few areas that the team management needs to fix before the vital knockouts.

The North Korean team’s attacking manoeuvres were difficult for the Moshal Girls to stop, and they were unable to turn their attacking opportunities into goals. Against more formidable continental opposition, greater finishing, enhanced midfield control, and increased defensive organisation will be crucial.

As East Bengal looks to make another statement in their historic AFC Women’s Champions League campaign, head coach Anthony Andrews will now need to get his team ready for the obstacles that lie ahead.

What changes should Anthony Andrews make ahead of the 4.25 SC clash?

Anthony Andrews will now have to address East Bengal’s defensive frailties and attacking shortcomings ahead of their historic quarter-final appearance in the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27.

Having secured qualification as one of the two best third-placed teams, the Moshal Girls will need to raise their overall performance levels to compete against Asia’s elite clubs.

Relying heavily on long-ball tactics might not be effective against technically organised opponents. The head coach will need to introduce alternative attacking strategies and improve the team’s build-up play.

Defensive organisation must also be strengthened, particularly when dealing with set-pieces, counter-attacks and overlapping runs from opposition players.

The midfielders must take greater responsibility for winning second balls, delivering accurate final passes and creating goalscoring opportunities. Players like Soumya Guguloth, Priyangka Devi and Sathi Debnath could provide additional options and tactical flexibility in the knockout stages.

Furthermore, Andrews must address the team’s over-reliance on Fazila Ikwaput in the attacking department. Other forwards, including Olivia and Sulanjana, will need to provide her with better support, while captain Shilky Devi Hemam must take greater initiative in creating opportunities for the attacking players.

A more balanced approach, improved defensive communication, greater attacking variety and better game management will be essential for the Moshal Girls as they prepare for their maiden AWCL quarter-final appearance.

Their historic qualification is a significant achievement, but the next challenge will be to demonstrate that East Bengal can compete with the continent’s strongest sides in the knockout stages.

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