AFC Women's Champions League 2025-26: East Bengal's Dominance Over Bam Khatoon
In a thrilling match at the Hankou Cultural Sports Centre in Wuhan, China, East Bengal, an Indian football club, showcased their prowess by defeating Bam Khatoon from Iran 3-1 in the AFC Women's Champions League 2025-26 Group B opener. This victory marks East Bengal's first-ever win in the main draw of the prestigious tournament.
The Indian side's success was fueled by a stellar performance, with goals from Shilky Devi Hemam (4'), Fazila Ikwaput (32'), and Resty Nanziri (87'). Mona Hamoudi's late goal in the first half (45+8') was the only consolation for Bam Khatoon, who have won the Iranian league a record 11 times.
East Bengal's triumph against last year's quarter-finalists propels them to the top of the group standings after the first matchday. The second fixture saw Uzbekistan's PFC Nasaf and the hosts Wuhan Jiangda play out a draw.
The tournament's format is a single round-robin group stage, followed by a knockout stage. Eight clubs will advance, with the top two from each group and the two best third-placed sides overall.
East Bengal's dominance began early, taking the lead in just the fourth minute. Fazila Ikwaput's persistence paid off, as she set up Shilky Hemam for a low shot into the bottom right corner from just above the box. This early strike set the tone for the Indian side's control over the match.
The Indian team's tempo-setting continued, limiting Bam Khatoon's opportunities to long-range efforts. Sara Didar and Fatemeh Geraeli tried their luck, but East Bengal's defense held firm. The team doubled their advantage in the 32nd minute with a slick build-up, showcasing Amnah Nababi's precise through ball to Ikwaput, who demonstrated excellent ball control before scoring.
Bam Khatoon almost conceded again three minutes later, with Soumya Guguloth setting up Resty Nanziri inside the six-yard box. However, the Ugandan midfielder's effort went over the bar. The Iranian team struggled to create chances, with Geraeli's tame effort in the 39th minute being the closest they came to scoring.
The match's turning point came when Jyoti Chouhan's handball led to a penalty, which Mona Hamoudi converted in first-half stoppage time, giving Bam Khatoon a glimmer of hope.
Despite Bam Khatoon's late goal, East Bengal's victory sets the stage for their continued success in the AFC Women's Champions League 2025-26. The tournament promises more exciting matches as the top clubs battle for the title.
