East Bengal FC vs Hwacheon KSPO WFC: Three-player battle that can decide AFC Women's Champions League match

The Moshal Girls and Hwacheon KSPO WFC are placed in Group B of the 2026-27 AWCL

East Bengal, the defending champions of the Indian Women’s League, have won the domestic title for the second consecutive season and are representing the Indian tricolour on the continental stage for the second consecutive year in the competition’s three-year history.

The Moshal Girls, who started their 2025-26 AFC Women’s Champions League campaign with a win, have made a similar start this season, beating Ho Chi Minh City FC 2-1 in their opening game in Kolkata.

Up next, they face South Korean side Hwacheon KSPO WFC, the defending champions of the WK League, the top tier of women’s football in South Korea. They enjoyed a brilliant campaign last year, winning a domestic treble, and are still in contention to defend their league title this season.

In their opening game of the 2026-27 AFC Women’s Champions League, they suffered a 2-1 defeat to April 25 SC despite an impressive performance in the final third. This is their first-ever participation in an Asian competition, and they will certainly take pride in their performances so far.

The clash between East Bengal and Hwacheon KSPO WFC is scheduled for 20:00 IST on November 4 at the Kishore Bharti Krirangan in Kolkata.

As one side looks for their first win of the competition while the other aims to keep their winning run going, let’s take a look at three key player battles that could decide the outcome of this crucial game.

Choi Yoo-jung vs A. Opoku

An intriguing individual battle that could have a major impact on the outcome of the game is the contest between South Korean striker Choi Yoo-jung and East Bengal defender Abena Opoku.

Choi Yoo-jung is in red-hot form this season, registering 15 goal contributions in the ongoing domestic campaign while also scoring in the opening 2026-27 AFC Women’s Champions League fixture.

She will come up against East Bengal’s Opoku, a defender known for her tenacious approach, aggressive tackling and proactive defending to win back possession.

Given Choi Yoo-jung’s unpredictable movement, false-nine role and lethal finishing, Opoku must be careful not to give her too much space while also avoiding unnecessary fouls, as she did in the opening game.

H. Tanaka vs Lee Su-bin

Tanaka, East Bengal’s new Japanese midfielder, had a productive outing in the opening game, putting in a solid performance at both ends of the pitch in her box-to-box role.

She was involved in both goals scored by East Bengal. Her set-piece delivery played a major role in winning the penalty for the opening goal, while her header directly assisted the second. She is known for her passing combinations and ability to operate under heavy pressure, displaying composure and tactical discipline.

She will come up against Lee Su-bin, the captain of Hwacheon KSPO WFC, who acts as both the orchestrator and destroyer in the middle of the park. Lee shields the defence, dictates the tempo of the game, and consistently contributes with her defensive actions and ball recoveries.

Tanaka could have a tough outing against Lee Su-bin and must be particularly careful about the space she allows the Hwacheon KSPO WFC midfielder, who also has a knack for popping up with crucial goals.

Fazila Ikwaput vs Lee Min-hwa

Ikwaput had an excellent outing in the opening game of the 2026-27 AFC Women’s Champions League, creating several chances and scoring a brace. The Ugandan forward came close to completing a hat-trick, with several other opportunities falling her way.

If East Bengal are to win consecutive games in the AFC Women’s Champions League for the first time in their history, Ikwaput will need to step up and deliver a similar performance against a defence that looked particularly vulnerable during transitions in the opening game.

She will come up against Lee Min-hwa in the Hwacheon KSPO WFC defence, who had a mixed outing in their opening fixture. While she won eight duels, she lost the most important one of the game, losing track of her marker in the 88th minute, from which the opposition scored the winning goal.

Lee Min-hwa also appeared to lack pace on several occasions and could be heavily exposed by Ikwaput’s explosive acceleration and physicality up front.

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