Historic quarterfinal qualification for East Bengal in AFC Women's Champions League!
East Bengal FC scripted history by becoming the first Indian club to qualify for the knockout stages of the AFC Women's Champions League despite a 0-2 defeat to 4.25 SC of DPR Korea in their final Group B match of the 2026-27 group stage at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Saturday, November 7, 2026.4.25 SC topped Group B on nine points, followed by Hwacheon KSPO WFC (Korea Republic) on six. East Bengal, who had narrowly missed out on the quarter-finals last year on goal difference, advanced this time as one of the two best third-placed teams across all three groups.
The Lxme Indian Women's League champions' 2-1 win over Ho Chi Minh City WFC (Vietnam) proved to be decisive in their qualification for the quarter-finals, scheduled for March 27-28, 2027. The knockout-stage draw will be held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on December 3.
The Moshal Girls will be unseeded in the draw and will be on the road to face either defending champions and Group A toppers Naegohyang Women's FC (DPR Korea), Group C toppers PFC Nasaf (Uzbekistan), or the best second-placed side Melbourne City FC (Australia). On Saturday, 4.25 wasted no time in stamping their mark on the game, taking the lead in the second minute when Pak Ok-i swung in a cross from the right, which was nodded home by Han Jin-hong.
Ok-i almost repeated the same feat in the 22nd minute, another pinpoint delivery found Ri Su-yang but this time the header was sent wide despite goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu Elangbam being rooted to her spot. East Bengal struggled to keep Ok-i contained with the forward pumping in another great cross in the 29th minute that found Jong Pom-hui, but this time the post came between 4.25 and a second goal.
4.25's pressure was rewarded with two minutes of regulation time left in the first half, Pom-hui's free-kick caused chaos in East Bengal's box, with Jong Pok-yong picking up the loose ball to set up Oh Sol-song for a tidy finish into the bottom corner. Panthoi was called into action five minutes after the restart, needing to be on her toes to tip away Jong Ryong-jong's curling free-kick.
Another chance went begging for 4.25 in the 68th minute as Oh jumped highest to get to Myong Yu-jong's cross but could only send her header over the bar. East Bengal switched to a more attacking mode in the final moments of the match but could not find a way past a resolute 4.25 defence, but it mattered little in the end as both advanced to the next round of the competition.