Fazila Ikwaput Brace Fires East Bengal FC to 2-1 Win Over Ho Chi Minh City in Historic AFC Women’s Champions League Opener

East Bengal FC began their AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 campaign with an important 2-1 victory over Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Sunday. 

Fazila Ikwaput scored twice in the first half to give the Indian champions a decisive advantage, while Dau Nguyen Quynh Anh pulled one back after the interval to set up a tense finish.

The match marked a historic occasion for Indian women's football, with Kolkata hosting the first-ever AFC Women's Champions League matchday on Indian soil. East Bengal made the most of home advantage, securing three points in their Group B opener and demonstrating their ability to compete against domestic champions from across Asia.

The result also made East Bengal the first club to register multiple victories in the AFC Women's Champions League group stage, adding Sunday's win to their victory over Iran's Bam Khatoon FC last season.

The opening exchanges suggested an evenly contested encounter, with both teams looking to establish attacking momentum. Ho Chi Minh City created an early opportunity through Ngo Thi Hong Nhung, whose volley struck the crossbar. East Bengal responded when Resty Naziri found herself with a close-range opportunity but could not direct her effort on target.

The breakthrough arrived in the 21st minute. East Bengal's attacking move was stopped when Football Video Support identified a handball by Rielly Chesna as she attempted to halt Ikwaput's progress. The referee awarded a penalty, and the Ugandan forward converted confidently to put the hosts ahead.

The goal gave East Bengal greater control of the contest. Olivia Anokye came close to doubling the advantage with a powerful long-range effort that struck the top of the crossbar. The pressure forced Ho Chi Minh City head coach Nguyen Duc Canh into a double substitution just after the half-hour mark, but his side conceded again before the changes could influence the game.

In the 34th minute, Ikwaput produced the decisive moment of the first half. She reacted quickly to Tanaka Hitomi's powerful header, held off Chesna and finished past the advancing goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh. The forward's second goal gave East Bengal a 2-0 lead and put them in a commanding position heading into the break.

Ikwaput's movement and finishing proved central to East Bengal's attacking threat. Her ability to capitalise on defensive uncertainty gave the hosts the advantage they needed against a side that had arrived in Kolkata as Vietnamese league champions.

Ho Chi Minh City fight back after the break

Ho Chi Minh City returned with greater urgency in the second half, attempting to reduce the deficit and find a route back into the match. East Bengal goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu Elangbam was initially not seriously troubled, but the visitors' substitutions eventually brought a change in momentum.

Eleven minutes into the second half, Duc Canh made another significant move, withdrawing captain Huynh Nhu and Chesna and introducing Dau Nguyen Quynh Anh and Chuong Thi Kieu.

The change paid off in the 60th minute. Tran Thi Thu Xuan delivered a free-kick into the East Bengal penalty area, creating uncertainty in the defence. Dau attacked the delivery bravely, diving forward to connect with a header and reduce the deficit to 2-1.

The goal transformed the closing stages into a much tighter contest. Ho Chi Minh City pushed forward in search of an equaliser, committing more players to attack. That approach, however, left space for East Bengal to exploit on the counter.

The hosts came close to restoring their two-goal cushion in the 74th minute. Anokye picked out Ikwaput with a delivery that appeared to offer the striker a straightforward opportunity to complete her hat-trick. However, Cu Thi Huynh Nhu produced an outstanding last-ditch sliding block to prevent the goal.

East Bengal had to remain disciplined through the closing stages, but they held on to secure a valuable opening victory.

The result gives East Bengal an important advantage in a competitive Group B that also features Korea Republic's Hwacheon KSPO WFC and DPR Korea's 4.25 SC. Hwacheon KSPO lost 1-2 to 4.25 SC earlier on Sunday, leaving East Bengal well placed after the opening round of fixtures.

The Moshal Girls secured their second consecutive AFC Women's Champions League group-stage appearance after finishing top of Group A in the preliminary stage in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. As reigning Indian Women's League champions, they are aiming to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.

East Bengal will next face Hwacheon KSPO WFC on November 4 before concluding their group campaign against 4.25 SC on November 7. The top three group winners, three runners-up and two best-ranked third-placed teams will advance to the quarter-finals.

For East Bengal, the victory over Ho Chi Minh City was more than a successful start. It was a statement performance on a historic night for women's club football in India. 

With Ikwaput leading the attack and the team successfully defending its advantage under late pressure, the Kolkata side has given itself a strong platform for the remaining Group B fixtures.