The Indian women’s football team started their Tri‑Nation International Friendlies with a hard‑hit defeat, falling 0‑2 to Iran in a match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong.
The loss came in the opening game on Tuesday, after a historic AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualification campaign that ended earlier this year. India’s “Blue Tigresses” were hoping this match would be a stepping‑stone as they prepare for the 2025 Asian Cup in Australia next March.
From the first minute, Iran looked confident and dominated the ball. They pushed the Indian defense into trouble from the outset. Inside the early minutes, a routine cross was mishandled by Indian goalkeeper Panthoi, giving Iran’s Fatemeh Shaban Ghohrood a chance to strike, only thwarted by a last‑ditch clearance from Phanjoubam Nirmala Devi.
Iran used their physical presence and fluid passing to keep pressure on India. The turn of the game happened in the 64th minute when Melika Motevaliitaher delivered a perfect cross from the right. The Indian backline lost the ball, and Zahra Ghanbari headed it towards the goal, but the ball hit the crossbar. A rebound found the exuberant substitute Sara Didar, who slipped her shot past the Indian keeper to make it 1‑0.
Didar stayed lethal. Ten minutes later, after a poor clearance from Indian defender Nongmaithem Ratanbala Devi, Didar seized the ball and fired low past Panthoi to extend the lead to 2‑0. She had already proven herself a key threat, and India’s defense could not keep up.
The match ended with Iran’s goalkeeper Raha Yazdani keeping India from scoring. In stoppage time, Iran’s Ghohrood lined up a shot that hit the post, but that was the only near miss.
India’s next game will be against Nepal on October 27. Iran will face Nepal on October 24. The result shows India’s defense needs polishing ahead of the Asian Cup, while Iran’s attack proves to be a formidable challenge for the hosts in future fixtures.
Source: ianslive
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