East Bengal become first Indian club to reach Women’s ACL knockouts

East Bengal Women became the first Indian club to reach the knockout stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League, qualifying for the quarter-finals despite a 0-2 defeat to North Korea’s April 25 Sports Club (4.25 SC) in their final Group B match at Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Saturday (7 November).

The Moshal Girls advanced as one of the two best third-placed teams across the three groups. They finished the group with three points after a 2-1 win over Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City WFC — the result that proved decisive — and a 1-4 loss to South Korea’s Hwacheon KSPO. 4.25 SC topped Group B with nine points; Hwacheon took second with six.

It was a hurdle they had just missed last season. In their debut campaign they reached the group stage but went out on goal difference. This time they began the final matchday with a goal difference of minus two and, Sportstar reported, needed to avoid a defeat heavier than three goals to stay in the hunt for a best-third-place spot after Hwacheon beat Ho Chi Minh City 3-1 earlier in the day.

4.25 SC scored early. Han Jin-hong headed in a second-minute cross from Pak Ok-i, and Oh Sol-song finished from a loose ball in the 43rd minute after a free-kick caused chaos in the East Bengal box. Goalkeeper Elangbam Panthoi Chanu made important saves before and after half-time, and East Bengal held the score at 0-2 through the second half.

The quarter-final draw will be held at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on 3 December. East Bengal will be unseeded and travel to face either defending champions Naegohyang Women’s FC, Group C winners PFC Nasaf of Uzbekistan, or Australia’s Melbourne City, the best second-placed side. The ties are scheduled for 27 and 28 March 2027.