New Delhi: Indian Women’s League champions East Bengal played out a 1-1 draw with Hong Kong side Kitchee FC to advance to the group stages of the AFC Women’s Champions League on Sunday.
Sangita Basfore put EB ahead in the ninth minute while Kitchee equalised through Ho Mui Mei just before 60 minutes. The red and gold outfit needed a draw to qualify for the main stage and they managed to hold on.
Basfore had scored against Thailand in a qualifier to help India qualify for the women’s AFC Asian Cup and continued her form in club football after being set up by Fazila Ikwaput.
EB had won their first preliminary game against Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Crown through a goal from Ikwaput.
Anthony Andrews’ side will make their first appearance in the AFC Women’s Champions League and are only the second Indian side after Odisha FC to qualify for the tournament proper in the new format.
India win SAFF U-17 Women C’ships
India lost 3-4 loss to Bangladesh in their last league match in Thimphu on Sunday but were still crowned champions of the SAFF U-17 Women’s Championships.
It was India’s India’s lone defeat in the tournament but still topped the league table with 15 points from six matches to be declared the winners.
Five matches on the trot had already made India champions even before taking to the field against Bangladesh. India beaten Bangladesh 2-0 in the first league clash on August 22.
Bangladesh went ahead as Purnima Marma scored in the opening minute, before Anushka Kumari restored parity for India in the ninth.
Bangladesh went ahead again through Alpi Akter in the 34th minute while Sauravi Prity made it 3-1 in the 48th.
Pritika Barman reduced the margin for India in the 65th minute followed by captain Julan’s equaliser in the 89th.
But Prity found the net in stoppage time to win it for Bangladesh at the Changlimithang Stadium.
India will now return to Bengaluru to prepare for the upcoming AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers in October in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic.