*SAFF Women's Club Championship 2025: East Bengal Women seal India's victory over Pakistan's Karachi City to move top of the standings
Photo BS News Agency.
Tapashi Kundu, BS News Agency Kathmandu, 11 December 2025: East Bengal FC maintained their winning momentum in the inaugural SAFF Women's Club Championship with a 2-0 victory over Pakistan's Karachi City FC at Kathmandu's Dashrath Stadium earlier today.
The match, billed as an India-Pakistan contest, carried extra weight for both clubs. EBFC Women dominated the match with relentless high pressing and fluid attacking play.
Karachi City, bolstered by international signings like Jordan's Maysa Jbarah, Tunisia's Samia Ouni and New Zealand's Eve Barry, arrived unbeaten but goalless after two goalless draws. However, they struggled to break through EBFC Women's organized backline, extending their tournament scoring drought to three games.
Sulanjana Raul broke the deadlock in the fifth minute with a low-driven shot from 20 yards out, off Fazila Ikwaput's assist. It was Raul's second goal in the competition.
Karachi responded with patches of possession. However, EBFC Women's centre-backs Abena Opoku and captain Ashalata Devi were solid throughout, winning key duels and thwarting rival attacks. The Kolkata-based club went into the break leading 1-0, having dictated the tempo while limiting Karachi to zero shots on target.
The pattern continued post-interval, with EBFC Women's energy undimmed. Karachi pushed forward in search of an equalizer, but this only exposed their flanks to EBFC Women's quick transitions. In the 49th minute, Resty Nanziri doubled the lead with a composed finish. The Ugandan forward, fresh off a goal in the tournament opener, latched onto a loose ball inside the box after a deflected clearance and slotted home calmly past the rival custodian to make it 2-0.
Resty Nanziri. Photo BS News Agency.
Sulanjana Raul was adjudged the Player of the Match.
*Speaking to the media after the win, EBFC Women's Head Coach Anthony Andrews said*, "We are happy with how the girls played today and with the three points. That said, I believe our girls can play a lot better in the coming games. India vs Pakistan games are always high-stakes encounters. We dedicate this win to all the Indians back home who have endured a lot."
The second match of the day between Nepal's APF and Bhutan's Transport United Ladies ended goalless, thus making the road to the final wide open. The Red & Gold Women need just one more point from their remaining two round-robin fixtures to progress to the final. The Red & Gold Women currently lead the standings with six points from two games (Goal difference: 6).
EBFC Women will next face Bangladesh's Nasrin Sports Academy on 14 December at the same venue.