East Bengal FC qualify for the AFC Women's Champions League Group Stage after a draw with Kitchee SC

A cagey draw has ensured East Bengal FC’s place at the top of the points table in the preliminary round.

In a hard-fought encounter at the National Sports Complex in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, East Bengal FC drew 1-1 against Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC in the final Group E Preliminary Stage match of the 2025-26 AFC Women’s Champions League. Sangita Basfore scored the only goal for the Kolkata-based club early in the first half.

The result was enough for the Indian Women’s League (IWL) champions to top Group E with 4 points from 2 matches, and secure a spot in the Group Stage among the twelve elite clubs of Asian women’s football.

Historic achievement for East Bengal

The feat makes EBFC Women only the second team from India, after Odisha FC, to advance to the tournament’s main draw. The Red & Gold women entered the game needing just a point to qualify, after beating hosts Phnom Penh Crown FC 1-0 at the same venue on Monday. They showed resilience despite a second-half equalizer, marking a landmark achievement in the club’s history.

Vital first half lead

EBFC Women’s Head Coach Anthony Andrews made a solitary change to the lineup that started against Phnom Penh Crown as Soumya Guguloth replaced Ugandan attacker Aminah Nababi.

EBFC Women dominated the early exchanges, pressing high and creating multiple chances through quick transitions.

The breakthrough came in the ninth minute when Indian national team midfielder Sangita capitalized on a well-timed assist from Ugandan forward Fazila Ikwaput to slot home the opener. The goal helped EBFC Women maintain possession and limit the opposition to long-range efforts.

The Red & Gold women could have extended their lead before the half-time break with Guguloth and Ikwaput making incisive runs into the final third.

Draw good enough for East Bengal

Kitchee, meanwhile, started the second half with renewed vigour, pushing aggressively for the equalizer. Their persistence paid off in the 59th minute when forward Ho Mui Mei found the back of the net.

Despite conceding a goal, the EBFC defense stood firm and thwarted the threats posed by the Hong Kong club thereon. The match eventually ended in a stalemate and secured EBFC Women’s spot in the Group Stage of the tournament.

Reflecting on the performance, EBFC Women’s Head Coach Anthony Andrews said, “We dedicate this qualification to all the East Bengal and Indian football fans who have consistently supported us. I am proud of my team. However, we should have done better in front of the goal.

The challenge will be greater as we will now compete against the elite clubs of Asian women’s football. We will analyze our mistakes and rectify them as we prepare for the next round.”

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