AFC Women’s Champions League 2025-26, Group B: East Bengal FC eliminated with loss to PFC Nasaf
PFC Nasaf booked their place in the quarter-finals of the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025-26 after defeating East Bengal FC 3-0 in their concluding Group B tie on Sunday.
The win moved the Uzbekistan side to four points, guaranteeing them a spot as one of the best third-placed finishers with the possibility of advancing automatically should Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC defeat Bam Khatoon FC in the later game.
Nasaf controlled the game from the opening whistle with Nilufar Kudratova driving into the box in the fifth minute but took just too long to make up her mind, allowing Anoma Opoku to close her down.
The Nasaf captain was more decisive in the 18th minute with the same run into the box, this time picking out Diyorakhon Khabibullaeva for the tap-in.
The goal lifted pressure off the Uzbekistan side as they started to play flowing football with only the crossbar denying efforts from Zarina Mamatkarimova and Gulzoda Amirova.
On the backfoot for much of the first half, East Bengal finally managed a shot on target in the 39th minute but Fazila Ikwaput’s free-kick was well read by Nasaf custodian Maftuna Jonimqulova.
Nasaf kept a tight grip on the game after the interval, extending their lead after seven minutes through Zarina Norboeva, who was at the right place at the right time to steer home Lyudmila Karachick’s cross.
East Bengal had an opportunity to pull a goal back in the 61st minute after Amnah Nababi played Soumya Guguloth through on goal but the latter struck the ball straight at Jonimqulova.
The bar came to East Bengal’s rescue for the third time in the match in the 66th minute after another Karachik’s cross after an excellent dribble was flicked on by Khabibullaeva past Elangbam Panthoi only to be denied by the woodwork.
Nasaf put the seal on an impressive performance with a third deep into stoppage time, Panthoi saving Karachik’s initial attempt but could do nothing to stop Khabibullaeva on the follow-up.
AFC Media
