East Bengal reach AFC Women's Champions League quarter-finals after 2-0 loss to 4.25 SC

East Bengal Women lost 0-2 to North Korea’s 4.25 SC in their final Group B match of the AFC Women's Champions League at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Saturday, November 7, but still qualified for the quarter-finals as one of the two best third-placed teams across the three groups.

After winning their maiden Indian Women's League title in 2024-25, East Bengal returned to the continental group stage for a second successive season and this time progressed beyond it. In their debut AFC Women's Champions League campaign last year they reached the group stage but missed out on the quarter-finals on goal difference, making this advancement the club's first into the knockout rounds of the competition.

The North Korean side opened the scoring in the second minute when Han Jin-hong headed home, and Oh Sol-song doubled 4.25 SC’s advantage in the 43rd minute. East Bengal goalkeeper Elangbam Panthoi Chanu produced several important saves to keep the scoreline at two, and the hosts held firm after the interval to preserve their qualification chance despite the defeat.

East Bengal's campaign featured a pivotal 2-1 victory over Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City WFC, a result that ultimately proved decisive in their advancement. They earlier suffered a 1-4 defeat to South Korea's Hwacheon KSPO before facing an unbeaten 4.25 SC in the final group fixture.

4.25 SC finished top of Group B with nine points, while Hwacheon KSPO were second on six; East Bengal advanced with three points as one of the best third-placed teams. The quarter-final draw will take place at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on December 3, and East Bengal will be unseeded and face either defending champions Naegohyang Women's FC, Group C winners PFC Nasaf or the best second-placed side, Melbourne City FC.

The quarter-finals are scheduled for March 27 and 28, 2027. For East Bengal, the achievement is already a landmark. Now, the Moshal Girls have a chance to take Indian women's club football into territory it has never reached before.