After facing some stiff resistance from Phnom Penh, East Bengal broke through as Fazila, a two-time IWL Golden Boot winner, struck to break the deadlock. The goal proved enough to seal the victory.
The preliminary phase of the 2025-26 AFC Women’s Champions League features 19 teams, split into five groups – four pools of four teams each and one of three.
After single round-robin matches, the five group winners and the best-ranked runners-up across pools will progress to the group stage, joining six automatic qualifiers from the highest-ranked AFC member associations.
East Bengal have been drawn in Group E alongside hosts Phnom Penh Crown FC and Hong Kong China’s Kitchee SC in the preliminary stage. Monday’s win puts them in good standing to progress.
East Bengal will face Kitchee in their next AWCL preliminary stage match at the same venue on Sunday.
This is only the second edition of the AWCL, Asia’s premier women’s club competition, which launched in 2024-25.
Odisha FC represented India in the inaugural season, advancing from the preliminary stage to the main draw before exiting in the group stage.
The 12-team main draw for the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025-26 will be held between November 9 and 23.