Women’s Friendlies
By Our Reporter
Shillong, Oct 21: A disappointing evening awaited the Indian senior women’s football team as they went down 0-2 to Iran in the opening match of the Tri-Nation Women’s International Friendlies at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong, on Tuesday.
The visitors’ victory was sealed in the second half through two clinical strikes from substitute Sara Didar, after a goalless first 45 minutes. For India, this match marked a return to competitive action following a historic AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualification campaign earlier this year and served as the opening test in preparations for next March’s Asian Cup in Australia.
However, the Blue Tigresses appeared tentative and off-colour throughout, struggling to assert themselves against a composed and physically dominant Iranian side. Iran quickly set the tone, pressuring India’s defence from the fourth minute. A routine cross fumbled by goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu almost gifted Iran an early lead, with defender Phanjoubam Nirmala Devi clearing the ball off the post in a desperate intervention.
As the first half progressed, Iran grew in confidence, stringing together cohesive attacking moves, while India found it difficult to construct meaningful chances in the final third. The breakthrough came in the 64th minute. A precise right-wing cross from Melika Motevaliitaher caught India’s backline napping. Zahra Ghanbari rose unchallenged to head the ball against the crossbar, leaving Sara Didar in position to acrobatically convert the rebound into the net.
India’s struggles continued, and in the 74th minute, a misjudged bounce by Nongmaithem Ratanbala Devi allowed Didar to intercept the ball near the edge of the box. The forward made no mistake, rifling a low shot past Panthoi to double Iran’s advantage. India’s attacking deficiencies remained evident, with their first real chance arriving only in the 89th minute when Lynda Kom Serto’s free-kick was comfortably saved by Iranian goalkeeper Raha Yazdani.
In stoppage time, Iran nearly added a third, with Fatemeh Shaban Ghohrood racing down the left flank and striking the post, underscoring the visitors’ dominance.
With this result, Iran will face Nepal in the next fixture of the Tri-Nation Women’s International Friendlies on October 24, while India will look to regroup and address defensive lapses ahead of the remainder of their preparation for the Asian Cup.
