India's East Bengal secured a 3-1 victory over Iran's Bam Khatoon in their Group B opener of the AFC Women's Champions League 2025/26 on Monday. The win provides an early boost to East Bengal's quarter-final aspirations.
East Bengal hit the ground running in the match, taking the lead in the fourth minute. After two blocked attempts by Fazila Ikwaput, the ball fell to Shilky Hemam, who struck a low shot into the bottom right corner from just above the box.
The Indian side dictated the tempo for much of the first half, limiting Bam Khatoon to long-range efforts from Sara Didar and Fatemeh Geraeli. East Bengal doubled their advantage in the 32nd minute through a slick build-up, with Amnah Nababi threading a perfectly timed through ball to Ikwaput, who slotted past goalkeeper Raha Yazdani.
Bam Khatoon nearly conceded again three minutes later when Soumya Guguloth set up Resty Nanziri inside the six-yard box, but the Ugandan midfielder skied her effort. The Iranian team troubled East Bengal's Elangbam Panthoi Chanu sparingly, with Geraeli testing the keeper from distance in the 39th minute.
Continuous attacks led to a penalty for Bam Khatoon in first-half stoppage time after Jyoti Chouhan's handball, which Mona Hamoudi converted to pull one back.
After the break, Bam Khatoon showed renewed intent, with Fatemeh Pasandideh testing Panthoi from outside the area and Geraeli's free-kick sailing over the bar at the hour mark. East Bengal intensified in the closing stages, with Ikwaput striking the post in the 79th minute and Yazdani saving Nanziri's effort in the 84th.
Hope for a Bam Khatoon comeback ended in the 87th minute when Nanziri launched a spectacular long-range effort that bent over Yazdani into the net, sealing the 3-1 win for East Bengal. The result positions East Bengal favorably ahead of their next match against defending champions Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC.