East Bengal thrash Rajshahi Stars 4-0 in AWCL 2026-27 preliminary opener
East Bengal FC beat Rajshahi Stars FC 4-0 at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia on Monday, August 17, 2026, in the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 preliminary stage. Ghanaian forward Olivia Anokye scored a brace while Astam Oraon and Soumya Guguloth added one goal apiece.
The win came in Group A of the preliminary round as the Indian Women’s League champions began their campaign aiming for successive group-stage qualification. East Bengal started without forwards Fazila Ikwaput and Resty Nanziri, and the victory marked the club’s first match in the group stage of the prelims. Anthony Andrews is the head coach of the Moshal Girls, who are competing for one of the limited places available from the preliminary phase.
East Bengal opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Olivia Anokye converted a penalty that was won by Soumya Guguloth. Astam Oraon doubled the lead with an individual strike in the 25th minute and Anokye added a second in the 37th minute to make it 3-0 by halftime. Soumya Guguloth completed the scoring in the 72nd minute to set the final score at 4-0.
Anokye made her debut for East Bengal after joining from Ghana and she provided the attacking spark with two goals. Indian internationals Astam Oraon and Soumya Guguloth also contributed on the scoresheet, while Sulanjana Raul and other Indian players were noted for effective showings under pressure. The East Bengal defence kept a clean sheet against the Bangladesh champions.
The back line was marshalled by captain Shilky Devi Hemam and featured Abena Opoku, new recruit Adama Alhassan, Priyangka Devi, Sarita Yumnam and Astam Oraon in defensive roles. That organisation at the back was cited as a positive outcome of the match and provided a foundation for the remaining group fixtures.
Rajshahi Stars entered the match as the reigning Women’s Football League champions of Bangladesh and were described as national-player-studded; coach Golam Rabbani Choton had stated before the game that his side wanted to take the preliminary round seriously and qualify for the main round. East Bengal’s match report said the Kolkata club outplayed Rajshahi through game planning and counter-attack tactics.
East Bengal reached beyond the AWCL preliminary stage last season and became the first Indian club to register a group-stage win in the competition before bowing out. Only the top team from each preliminary group will progress, with six groups and 24 teams involved, and East Bengal’s victory has given them an early platform in their bid to reach the main round.
East Bengal’s next fixture is against Rovers FC on August 20, 2026 at 1:30 PM (IST) at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu; the match will be streamed live on the Fancode mobile app in India.