Image: East Bengal FC

Ho Chi Minh City Women's FC 1 (Dau Nguyen Quynh Anh 60')
lost to
East Bengal FC 2 (Fazila Ikwaput 21' p, 34')

AFC Media Team

KOLKATA: East Bengal FC scored two first-half goals via Fazila Ikwaput to defeat Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC 2-1 in their action-packed opener of the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 Group B at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

The Ugandan striker netted a penalty in the 21st minute before scoring with a superb finish in the 34th to seal all three points in what was the first-ever AFC Women's Champions League matchday on Indian soil.

With the victory, East Bengal also became the first side to win multiple AFC Women's Champions League Group Stage matches, adding to their win over Bam Khatoon FC of IR Iran last season.

East Bengal, the reigning Lxme Indian Women's League champions, will face Hwacheon KSPO WFC of Korea Republic, who lost 1-2 to DPR Korea's 4.25 SC earlier in the day, in their next game on November 4. The group winners, runners-up and the two best-ranked third-placed teams across all three groups will advance to the quarter-finals.

The opening minutes set the tone as both sides exchanged opportunities, with Ngo Thi Hong Nhung unleashing a 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 City 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 the Moshal Girls a significant lead to take into the interval.

Ho Chi Minh City improved after the break but were still unable to trouble East Bengal custodian Panthoi Chanu Elangbam, 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 City 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.