East Bengal kicked off their AFC Women's Champions League Group B journey in style, defeating Iran's Bam Khatoon 3-1 at the Hankou Cultural Sports Centre in Wuhan on Monday. The Indian side seized control
of the match almost immediately, signalling their intent with an early breakthrough inside four minutes.
After two of Fazila Ikwaput's attempts were blocked, the loose ball rolled toward Shilky Hemam, who calmly drilled a precise low shot into the bottom-right corner from the edge of the area.
The early goal handed East Bengal complete command of the first half. Their midfield shape and composure in possession forced Bam Khatoon into speculative long-range attempts, with Sara Didar and Fatemeh Geraeli trying to test the Indian defence from distance without success.
A beautifully constructed move doubled East Bengal's lead in the 32nd minute. Amnah Nababi sliced open the Iranian backline with a perfectly weighted through ball that found Ikwaput in stride. The Ugandan forward displayed excellent control before easing her finish past goalkeeper Raha Yazdani.
Three minutes later, the Indian side nearly added a third when Soumya Guguloth teed up Resty Nanziri inside the six-yard box. Nanziri, however, sent her effort over the bar, letting Bam Khatoon off the hook. The Iranians had shown little threat until the closing moments of the first half, when Geraeli finally forced a routine save from goalkeeper Elangbam Panthoi Chanu.
In stoppage time, Bam Khatoon pulled one back. A handball by Jyoti Chouhan gifted them a penalty, and Mona Hamoudi converted confidently to bring the Iranian club back into the contest.
The second half saw Bam Khatoon push forward with greater purpose. Pasandideh and Geraeli both tested Panthoi from outside the box, though neither effort truly troubled the keeper. But once East Bengal regained momentum, they looked the sharper side offensively. Ikwaput struck the post in the 79th minute before Yazdani denied her again with a fine low save moments later.
The match was finally put beyond doubt in the 87th minute. Nanziri unleashed a sensational long-range effort that dipped over Yazdani and nestled into the net, sealing East Bengal's deserved victory.
With only the top two teams assured of a quarterfinal berth-along with the two best third-placed teams-this strong start places East Bengal in an excellent early position.
