East Bengal Women beat Sabah FA 2-0 to top Group A and qualify for AFC Women’s Champions League group stage

East Bengal Women defeated Sabah FA 2-0 in the final Group A match of the AFC Women’s Champions League Preliminary Stage on August 23, 2026, and secured qualification for the competition’s group stage. The result left East Bengal top of Group A with nine points and a +18 goal difference.

Both sides entered the match level on six points, but East Bengal carried a superior goal difference so a draw would have been enough for them while Sabah needed a win. Sabah started the game aggressively from the first touch and pressed high in search of a decisive goal. That initial pressure produced opportunities but the Malaysian side failed to convert in the final third. The teams remained deadlocked at half-time, keeping the outcome in the balance.

Errors and poor communication in Sabah’s play contributed to their inability to score in the opening 45 minutes. Despite sustained attacking intent, Sabah struggled to penetrate East Bengal’s defence when it mattered. Those shortcomings meant the match remained scoreless until the second half.

The breakthrough arrived in the 67th minute when Olivia Anokye produced a solo run from the right, beat the goalkeeper and struck a thumping shot into the net to give East Bengal the lead. Anokye’s goal altered the momentum and handed East Bengal the advantage they required to control the closing stages. From that point the match increasingly moved in East Bengal’s favour.

East Bengal doubled their lead in the 88th minute through Soumya Guguloth, who finished first-time from a carpet cross delivered from the left, leaving Sabah keeper Asma as a spectator. The second goal removed any remaining doubt and ensured a 2-0 final scoreline. The two second-half goals secured qualification for the reigning IWL Champions.

The victory left East Bengal top of Group A with nine points, having scored 18 goals and conceded none for a goal difference of +18. Sabah FA finished second with six points after earlier wins over Rajshahi FC and Rovers FC, but their loss to East Bengal prevented progression. Rajshahi FC moved to third place with three points following a 3-0 win over Rovers FC; Rovers ended the group with zero points and a -33 goal difference.

East Bengal have now booked their place in the AFC Women’s Champions League group stage as Group A winners, completing the Preliminary Stage campaign with nine points and an unbeaten record.