East Bengal loses 0-3 to Nasaf FC and exits the AFC Women’s Champions League

Indian Women’s League champions East Bengal lost 0-3 to Uzbekistan’s Nasaf FC in the 2025-26 AFC Women’s Champions League, ending their hopes of qualifying for the tournament’s knockouts.

East Bengal, who needed a draw – for a place in the round of 16 – from the last match of the group stage, were outplayed in most parts of the match by a side that had held defending champions Wuhan Jiangda to a 1-1 draw in the opening match of the Champions League.

Although Soumya Guguloth tried to use the long ball channel and got supplies from Resty Nanziri, it was Nasaf’s goalkeeper Maftuna Jonimqulov who kept firm control between the sticks.

In the 23rd minute, Nasaf attacked against the flow of play, with captain Nilufar Kudratova beating Astam Oraon on the right and sending in a low cross, which Diyorakhon Khabibullaeva hit home to beat Elambam Panthoi Chanu.

Referee Yamashita Yoshimi rechecked the goal on Football Video Support (FVS) for possible offside against Kudratova, but ultimately ruled in favor of the Uzbek team.

Nasaf doubled the lead through substitute Zarina Norboeva, who latched onto a loose ball in the East Bengal penalty area and found the net in the 52nd minute.

East Bengal, trailing 0-2, still had an outside chance to qualify as the third-placed team by the margin of defeat. However, Khabibullaeva delivered the sucker punch in the final minute of second-half stoppage time, scoring on a rebound after Chanu’s save seconds earlier.

The score, 0-2, meant East Bengal ended its Champions League season bottom of the table, with a win – a first for an Indian side – and two losses.

Published on November 23, 2025