Adefeat could not diminish the occasion’s significance for East Bengal. Despite losing 0-2 to DPR Korea’s 4.25 SC in their final Group B fixture, the Kolkata-based club achieved a historic milestone on Saturday, becoming the first Indian side to qualify for the AFC Women’s Champions League knockout stages.
The match was played at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on November 7, 2026.
While 4.25 SC finished their group campaign with a commanding nine points, East Bengal’s earlier results ensured they secured a quarter-final berth as one of the two best third-placed teams across the three groups.
For the Moshal Girls, qualification also represented redemption after last season’s disappointment. East Bengal had narrowly missed out on a quarter-final berth in the previous edition on goal difference.
This time, the Lxme Indian Women’s League champions went one step further, with their crucial 2-1 victory over Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City WFC ultimately making the difference.
The group standings saw 4.25 SC finish first with nine points, followed by Korea Republic’s Hwacheon KSPO WFC with six.
East Bengal progressed despite their final-day defeat, underlining the importance of their earlier victory.
The quarter-finals are scheduled for March 27-28, 2027. The knockout-stage draw will take place at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on December 3.
East Bengal will enter the draw unseeded and could face one of three opponents: defending champions and Group A toppers Naegohyang Women’s FC of DPR Korea; Group C winners PFC Nasaf of Uzbekistan; or Melbourne City FC of Australia, the best second-placed team.
Meanwhile, 4.25 SC established their authority almost immediately. The North Korean side needed just two minutes to break the deadlock.
Pak Ok-i delivered a cross from the right, and Han Jin-hong headed it in to give the visitors an early advantage.
East Bengal struggled to contain Ok-i’s attacking threat. In the 22nd minute, another inviting delivery from the forward found Ri Su-yang, but her header drifted wide, and goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu Elangbam couldn’t intervene.
Seven minutes later, 4.25 came close again. Ok-i picked out Jong Pom-hui with another dangerous cross, but the effort struck the post, sparing East Bengal from conceding a second goal.
The visitors eventually doubled their advantage just before half-time. With two minutes of regulation time remaining, Pom-hui’s free-kick created confusion inside the East Bengal penalty area. Jong Pok-yong collected the loose ball and set up Oh Sol-song, who calmly finished into the bottom corner.
East Bengal goalkeeper Panthoi was tested again five minutes into the second half, producing a save to keep out Jong Ryong-jong’s curling free-kick.
4.25 continued to threaten, with Oh coming close to extending the lead in the 68th minute. She rose above the East Bengal defence to meet Myong Yu-jong’s cross but sent her header over the crossbar.
East Bengal attempted to push forward during the closing stages in search of a goal, but the visitors’ organised defence held firm. The scoreline remained 2-0 in favour of 4.25 SC.
However, the defeat did little to spoil East Bengal’s historic night. The Indian champions had secured what they had set out to achieve, a place among Asia’s top eight women’s club sides and a landmark first for Indian football.