India’s East Bengal Make AFC Champions League History! Fazila Ikwaput’s Brace Sinks Vietnam 2-1 in Kolkata
India’s East Bengal FC made a memorable statement on the Asian football stage with a 2-1 victory over Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC in their opening Group B fixture of the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on November 1.
Ugandan striker Fazila Ikwaput emerged as the match-winner with a brilliant first-half brace, scoring in the 21st and 34th minutes. Although Ho Chi Minh City fought back through Dau Nguyen Quynh Anh in the 60th minute, East Bengal held their nerve to secure all three points.
The victory also created a significant milestone for Indian women’s football. East Bengal became the first Indian club to register multiple victories in the AFC Women’s Champions League group stage, adding this win to their 3-1 victory over Iran’s Bam Khatoon FC in the previous edition.
Fazila Ikwaput’s First-Half Double Puts East Bengal in Control
East Bengal started the contest with attacking intent, but both teams created opportunities during the opening exchanges.
Vietnam’s Ngo Thi Hong Nhung came close to scoring with a volley that struck the crossbar, while East Bengal’s Resty Naziri missed an opportunity from close range.
The breakthrough arrived in the 21st minute when Football Video Support detected a handball by Ho Chi Minh City’s Rielly Chesna while attempting to stop Ikwaput’s forward movement.
The referee awarded a penalty, and Ikwaput calmly converted from the spot to give the Indian side a 1-0 lead.
East Bengal continued putting pressure on the Vietnamese defence. In the 28th minute, Olivia Anokye unleashed a powerful long-range effort, but her attempt struck the top of the crossbar.
The Kolkata side doubled their advantage in the 34th minute. Japanese defender Tanaka Hitomi produced a powerful header, which Ikwaput capitalised on brilliantly. The Ugandan striker held off Rielly Chesna before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh.
The goal completed Ikwaput’s brace and gave East Bengal a commanding 2-0 lead at half-time.
Dau Nguyen Quynh Anh Gives Ho Chi Minh City Hope in Second Half
Ho Chi Minh City returned with greater attacking intent after the break and looked determined to get back into the contest.
East Bengal goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu Elangbam initially kept the visitors at bay, but the Vietnamese side eventually found their breakthrough in the 60th minute.
Tran Thi Thu Xuan delivered a dangerous free-kick into the East Bengal penalty area, creating confusion in the defence. Substitute Dau Nguyen Quynh Anh reacted quickly, diving forward to connect with a header and reduce the deficit to 2-1.
The goal changed the momentum of the contest, with Ho Chi Minh City increasing their attacking pressure in search of an equaliser.
However, East Bengal remained organised defensively and refused to surrender their advantage.
Olivia Anokye and Fazila Ikwaput Nearly Extend the Lead
East Bengal had an excellent opportunity to restore their two-goal advantage in the 74th minute.
Olivia Anokye picked out Ikwaput with a well-timed pass, creating what appeared to be a clear opportunity for the Ugandan forward to complete her hat-trick.
However, Ho Chi Minh City’s Cu Thi Huynh Nhu produced a crucial sliding block at the last moment to prevent another goal.
The Vietnamese side continued pushing forward during the closing stages, but East Bengal’s defensive discipline ensured that the visitors could not find an equaliser.
The final whistle confirmed a 2-1 victory for the Indian champions, giving them a perfect start to their continental campaign.
East Bengal Create History for Indian Women’s Football
The victory was significant beyond the three points.
East Bengal became the first Indian club to record multiple victories in the AFC Women’s Champions League group stage. Their previous success came against Iran’s Bam Khatoon FC, whom they defeated 3-1 in the previous edition.
The 2026-27 campaign also marked another important milestone as India hosted an AFC Women’s Champions League matchday for the first time.
The Moshal Girls had secured their group-stage qualification after an impressive preliminary-round campaign in Malaysia, winning all three matches and scoring 18 goals without conceding.
Their latest victory against Vietnamese champions Ho Chi Minh City further demonstrated their growing competitiveness in Asian women’s club football.
East Bengal’s Next Match: Hwacheon KSPO on November 4
East Bengal will next face South Korean club Hwacheon KSPO WFC on November 4 in their second Group B fixture.
Hwacheon KSPO suffered a 1-2 defeat against North Korea’s 4.25 SC in their opening match, making the upcoming encounter important for both teams.
The Group B competition features East Bengal, Ho Chi Minh City, Hwacheon KSPO and 4.25 SC.
The three group winners, three runners-up and two best-ranked third-placed teams across the three groups will advance to the quarter-finals.
With Fazila Ikwaput leading the attack and Tanaka Hitomi making an immediate impact, East Bengal will look to continue their winning momentum and strengthen India’s presence in Asian women’s club football.
For the Moshal Girls, the 2-1 victory in Kolkata was more than just a winning start. It was another historic step for Indian women’s football on the continental stage.
