In a spectacular display of skill and determination, East Bengal FC's women's team marked their historic debut in the AFC Women's Champions League with a commanding 3-1 victory over Iran's Bam Khatoon FC. The landmark match unfolded at the TransStadia Arena in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, showcasing the growing prowess of Indian women's football on the continental stage.
Dominant First Half Performance
The Indian representatives started with explosive energy, establishing early dominance that would set the tone for the entire match. Sudipta Das broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute, capitalizing on a defensive error from the Iranian side to give East Bengal a crucial early advantage. The momentum continued to build as Indian international Pyari Xaxa doubled the lead just before halftime, finding the net in the 44th minute to give her team a comfortable 2-0 cushion going into the break.
The first-half performance demonstrated East Bengal's strategic preparation and execution, with the team effectively controlling possession and creating numerous scoring opportunities against their experienced opponents from Iran.
Second Half Action and Final Outcome
The second half saw East Bengal continue their offensive pressure, with Srijana Birla extending the lead to 3-0 in the 61st minute. This goal effectively sealed the victory for the Indian side, though Bam Khatoon managed to pull one back through Melika Mohammadi in the 81st minute, denying East Bengal a clean sheet but not threatening the final outcome.
Despite the late consolation goal from the Iranian team, East Bengal maintained composure and control throughout the closing stages of the match, ensuring their historic debut would end in a memorable victory.
Group Stage Context and Future Matches
This opening match placed East Bengal in Group C of the AFC Women's Champions League, where they compete alongside Bam Khatoon FC and Myanmar's ISPE WFC. The tournament format sees only the group winners advancing to the knockout stages, making this initial victory particularly significant for East Bengal's campaign.
The Indian champions will face their next challenge against ISPE WFC from Myanmar on Saturday, carrying the confidence from this impressive opening performance. Another victory would put East Bengal in a strong position to potentially top the group and advance to the next round of the competition.
This match represents a milestone moment for Indian women's football, marking the first time an Indian club has participated in the AFC Women's Champions League since its inception. The convincing victory against established continental opponents signals promising development for the sport in the country and provides valuable international exposure for the players.
