In Wuhan, China, on November 20 (NationPress), Wang Shuang delivered an impressive first-half brace that propelled the reigning champions, Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC, to a 2-0 triumph over East Bengal FC in their AFC Women’s Champions League 2025-26 Group B match held on Thursday.

East Bengal, who claimed a 3-1 victory against Iran's Bam Khatoon FC in their previous match, still hold a chance to progress to the quarter-finals. They will need to ensure they do not lose by more than two goals against Uzbekistan's PFC Nasaf on November 23.

The match started with Wuhan Jiangda applying early pressure. In the seventh minute, Deng Mengye made a strong run from a through ball by Wang Shuang, but her shot from the right was saved by East Bengal's goalkeeper, Elangbam Panthoi Chanu.

However, just a minute later, the Moshal Girls found themselves behind when Wang Shuang converted a cross from Song Fei, slipping the ball past a diving Panthoi. The situation worsened for East Bengal when a penalty was awarded after a VAR review confirmed that Panthoi had fouled Wang Shuang in the box. The former AFC Women’s Footballer of the Year confidently scored from the spot in the 17th minute.

East Bengal had an opportunity to cut the lead but Soumya Guguloth sent her attempt over the bar in the 23rd minute. Panthoi then stepped up again, stopping Mavis Owusu after a well-placed through ball from Wang Shuang. The second half saw Panthoi continuing to thwart Wuhan Jiangda with a remarkable point-blank save against Owusu in the 56th minute, followed by another crucial save against Kim Hye-ri in the 61st minute.

Panthoi was a standout performer, denying Deng Mengye and executing a superb tackle against Owusu in the 73rd minute. A moment of lapse from Wuhan Jiangda in the 77th minute gave East Bengal a fleeting chance when Soumya Guguloth sent Sushmita Lepcha through, but the midfielder's shot was off-target, encapsulating their frustrating evening.