East Bengal FC makes history, reaches AFC Women's Champions League knockouts

East Bengal FC etched their name into Indian football history on Saturday by becoming the first domestic side to secure a berth in the knockout rounds of the AFC Women's Champions League. The landmark achievement came even as the Kolkata-based club suffered a 2-0 loss to North Korean outfit 4.25 SC in their final group fixture at home.

The defeat did not diminish East Bengal's overall group performance, which proved sufficiently strong to earn them a place among the elite teams progressing to the knockout phase of the continental competition. The result underscores the growing competitive standard of Indian women's football and the emergence of East Bengal as a formidable regional force.

East Bengal's progression to the knockout stage represents a watershed moment for Indian club football on the continental stage. The achievement is expected to provide significant momentum to the development of women's football across the country and inspire other Indian clubs to compete at higher levels of continental competition.

The AFC Women's Champions League remains Asia's premier club competition for women's football, featuring teams from across the continent. East Bengal's qualification signals a maturing infrastructure and talent pool within Indian women's football.