---
title: "East Bengal FC beat Rajshahi Stars FC 4-0 in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; Anokye scores twice."
sdDatePublished: "2026-08-17T14:07:00Z"
source: "https://www.olympics.com/en/news/afc-women-champions-league-2026-27-east-bengal-vs-rajshahi-stars-fc-report"
topics:
  - name: "football"
    identifier: "medtop:20001065"
  - name: "sport event"
    identifier: "medtop:20001108"
  - name: "international championship"
    identifier: "medtop:20001112"
  - name: "sport"
    identifier: "medtop:15000000"
locations:
  - "Sabah"
  - "Kota Kinabalu"
  - "Malaysia"
  - "Guam"
  - "Bangladesh"
  - "India"
---


East Bengal FC beat Rajshahi Stars FC 4-0 in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; Anokye scores twice.

AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27: East Bengal cruise past Rajshahi Stars 4-0 in preliminary opener

AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27: East Bengal cruise past Rajshahi Stars 4-0 in preliminary opener

Olivia Anokye scored twice for East Bengal against the Bangladeshi football club. The Indian side will take on Guam’s Rovers FC in their next match on Thursday.

Indian football club East Bengal FC began its AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 campaign in style, beating Bangladesh’s Rajshahi Stars FC 4-0 in their preliminary-stage opener in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, on Monday.

Olivia Anokye (9’, 38’) scored twice, while Rimpa Haldar (26’) and Soumya Guguloth (72’) were also on target as the East Bengal women’s football team controlled the contest from the outset to secure a convincing victory.

Anthony Andrew’s side needed just nine minutes to take the lead after being awarded a penalty. Anokye stepped up and converted despite Rajshahi goalkeeper Rupna Chakma getting close to the effort.

East Bengal continued to dictate proceedings and doubled their advantage in the 26th minute through Haldar.

The Indian football club then struck again before half-time. Haldar sent a cross towards the far post in the 38th minute, with Sulanjana Raul reacting quickest to cut the ball back into the danger area. Anokye arrived to finish the move and complete her brace.

Rajshahi responded with greater resistance after the break but struggled to create clear-cut opportunities against an organised East Bengal defence.

Their best opportunity came through Monika Chakma, whose long-range effort tested Elangbam Panthoi. The East Bengal goalkeeper was equal to it, keeping the Bangladeshi side from finding a way back into the contest.

East Bengal remained patient with a three-goal cushion and added a fourth in the 72nd minute. A defensive error presented Raul with an opening and she played Guguloth through, with the forward making no mistake with the finish.

The result gives East Bengal three points from their opening AWCL 2026-27 Group A match.

The Indian club will next face Guam’s Rovers FC on Thursday before taking on Malaysia’s Sabah FA on Sunday.

All three of East Bengal’s preliminary-stage matches are being played at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu as part of a centralised single-round-robin format.

The Moshal Girls qualified for the continental competition after winning the 2025-26 Indian Women’s League. The 2026-27 campaign is East Bengal’s second appearance in an AFC competition.

Last season, East Bengal became the first Indian club to win a match in the AFC Women’s Champions League before their campaign came to an end.

The 2026-27 preliminary stage features 24 teams divided into six groups of four. The winner of each group will advance to the league stage, joining six teams that have received direct entry.

The 12 teams in the league stage will then be divided into three groups of four, with the main draw starting in November.

History of Indian football - glorious highs, persistent lows and one big missed opportunity