East Bengal's women’s team have started this year's journey from where they finished last season. They had qualified for the main round of the AFC Women's Champions League by overcoming the challenges of Cambodia's Phnom Penh Crown FC and Hong Kong's Kitchee FC. This time, they started their main round journey with a victory. In their first group match, East Bengal's women's football team defeated Iran's Bam Khatoon FC 3-1. Against tough opponents, Fazila Ikwaput, Shilky Hemam and Resty Nanziri scored on the scoresheet.
The match was held in Wuhan, China. The opponents, Bam Khatoon FC, were 11-time Iranian domestic league champions. However, East Bengal's women were not underdogs, but rather played sufficiently dominant football to secure victory. Against tough opponents, the red-yellow brigade started playing in an attacking manner from the beginning of the match.
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Shilky Devi Hemam gave them the lead in the fourth minute. First, Bam Khatoon's defenders blocked Fazila Ikwaput's shot. Getting the ball in space, Shilky scored with a powerful shot from outside the box. Notably, this was her first goal. East Bengal extended their lead in the 32nd minute. Getting the ball from midfield, she attacked at a tremendous pace. Avoiding the goalkeeper's reach, she curled the ball into the net with a low shot.
Just before the end of the first half, Bam Khatoon pulled one back. Iran's team got a penalty when one of East Bengal's defenders committed a handball in the box. Mona Hamoudi did not miss from the penalty spot. The first half ended 2-1.
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The second half saw a fierce battle. However, Fazila got an opportunity within the first two minutes. With individual skill, she penetrated the opponent's defence and shot towards the goal. But one of Bam Khatoon's defenders cleared the ball from the goal line.
Resty Nanziri extended the margin in the 87th minute. She ensured her team's victory by scoring with a long-range shot. Winning this match against tough opponents will boost the confidence of coach Anthony Andrews’s girls.
