PFC Nasaf booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2025-26 AFC Women’s Champions League after beating East Bengal FC 3-0 in their final Group B match on Sunday.
The win took the Uzbekistan side to four points, guaranteeing them a spot as one of the top third-placed players with the opportunity to automatically advance if Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC beat Bam Khatoon FC in the later match.
Nasaf controlled the match from the opening whistle as Nilufar Kudratova drove into the penalty area in the fifth minute, but she 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 point in the penalty area, this time choosing Diyorakhon Khabibullaeva for the tap-in.
The goal eased the Uzbek side’s pressure as they began to play fluent football, with only the crossbar denying attempts from Zarina Mamatkarimova and Gulzoda Amirova.
East Bengal were on the back foot for much of the first half and finally managed to get 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 firm grip on the game after the break and extended the lead after seven minutes through Zarina Norboeva, who was in the right place at the right time to send in Lyudmila Karachick’s cross.
East Bengal had a chance to pull a goal back in the 61st minute after Amnah Nababi played Soumya Guguloth through on goal, but the latter hit the ball straight at Jonimqulova.
The crossbar came to East Bengal’s rescue for the third time in the match in the 66th minute from another cross from Karachik after Khabibullaeva had fired an excellent dribble past Elangbam Panthoi but it was denied by the woodwork.
Nasaf put in an impressive performance with a third deep into stoppage time, with Panthoi saving Karachik’s first effort but could do nothing to stop Khabibullaeva in the follow-up effort.
AFC media
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