*Unbeaten East Bengal FC Women finish top of the group standings; eye glory in December 20 final against Nepal's APF FC*
Pictures BS News Agency.
Tapashi Kundu, BS News Agency, Kathmandu, 17 December 2025: East Bengal FC Women and Nepal's APF FC played out a goalless draw in their final round-robin encounter at Kathmandu's Dashrath Stadium this evening. Both sides will face each other again in the final at the same venue on December 20, Saturday (Kickoff - 5 PM).
EBFC Women entered the game atop the standings with a perfect record from their opening three matches, while APF sat second (seven points from three games; two wins and a draw), already assured of a top-two finish. The draw confirms EBFC Women's position at the top of the group standings with ten points from four games.
Chances were at a premium in a tightly-contested affair. Both sides showed defensive discipline, with EBFC Women's backline - solid throughout the tournament - repelling APF's attacks, while APF's rearguard kept the Kolkata-based club's forward line at bay. EBFC Women registered four shots on target, whilst their Nepalese counterparts registered two.
The draw underlined the competitive balance between the two strongest sides in the competition, promising a fascinating showdown for the trophy in just three days' time.
*Speaking to the media after the match, EBFC Women's Head Coach Anthony Andrews said*, "As I said before, APF is a very strong team and comprises the core of the Nepal women's national team. We got some good chances to score, but couldn't convert them. You can say this was a pre-exam before the main exam. We are looking at the broader picture and will try to fill the gaps in our team that we noticed today."