Prodigal Blue Tigresses go down to Thailand in crunch encounter

NEW DELHI: India Senior Women’s Team’s dream of crossing the group stage hurdle in the Asian Games 2023 evaporated on the pitch of Wenzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, Wenzhou, on Sunday, September 24, when they went down to mighty Thailand 0-1.

Thongrong Parichat scored the all-important goal in the 51st minute.

Pitted against two of the strongest teams in the competition, Chinese Taipei and Thailand, in Group B, the Blue Tigresses displayed immense combat quality and the ability to take the battle right inside the rival territory but were finally forced to bow against the skills and excellence of the oppositions, who proved too compact and experienced to fall for the bait.

While Chinese Taipei are ranked 38 in the FIFA ranking, Thailand are not far behind at 46. India, on the other hand, are way below the ladder at 61. But never for a moment, India played the second fiddle for the 180 minutes they were on the pitch in their two matches in the Asian Games. It was a success story that would help in their future growth process.

India’s story against Thailand was no different from what it was against the Chinese Taipei. While, after initial hesitations, India attacked relentlessly from both flanks to scare the rival defence, Thailand took the lead in the 51st minute and managed to hang on to it for the rest of the encounter. A better result from this match would have kept India’s hopes of making the next round as one of the best runners-up sides alive, but it was not to be.

If head coach Thomas Dennerby was found sitting on the bench after the match with a blank look on his face, he couldn’t really be blamed for it. His wards did everything possible to turn the tide, yet they remained unsuccessful. Manisha Kalyan, Anju Tamang and company at times looked unstoppable and rattled the Thailand defence time and again. There were moments when it looked like the Indian equaliser was only a matter of time. In the end, the equaliser stayed elusive and the Blue Tigresses returned empty-handed.

At the same time, Indians would have to look at their own mistakes too. The opportunity that Manisha Kalyan had seconds before the half-time whistle after Indumathi set it up for her, had a goal written all over it. She had the Thailand defence at her mercy, yet she failed unexpectedly. It happened in the second session as well. While a panic-stricken Thailand defence looked for cover, the Indians behaved in the most prodigal manner, throwing away chances at rapid intervals. On a couple of occasions, they were caught off-side much to the frustration of the Indian bench.

Thailand were surprised by India’s sudden spate of aggression after 15 minutes and looked clueless for a period. But they didn’t take much time to regroup themselves and stretch the Indian defence with imaginative forays. The fact that the Indian defence could withstand the pressure well was praiseworthy, but some uncertainty immediately after the half-time cost India dear. With Indian defenders out of their positions, Thongrong Parichat was quick to score off a low cross from Pengngam Saowalak, a goal that made all the difference.

India: Shreya Hooda, Sweety Devi, Ashalata Devi, Dalina Chibber, Sangita Basfore (Ranjana Chanu, 86’), Sanju, Anju Tamang, Bala Devi (Pyari Xaxa, 62’), Dangmei Grace (Sandhya Ranganathan, 65’), Indumathi Kathiresan, Manisha Kalyan (Renu, 86’).

Also Read: Rejuvenated East Bengal FC as the Red & Gold Brigade aim for a strong start to the season against Jamshedpur FC

Also Read: FC Goa announces ticket sale for ISL 2023-24 home matches

Follow us on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram for all the latest happenings in the world of Indian Football.

Bank of India announces open trial for Mumbai Corporate League Campaign

Bank of India is set to make its mark in the Mumbai Corporate League and is looking for exceptional football talent to bolster its squad. The trial is scheduled for…

Share

India Khelo Football Workshop returns to Mumbai for its 4th Season

The Indian Khelo Football (IKF) Workshop returns to Mumbai this September, bringing with it an exceptional platform for aspiring footballers to showcase their skills and seize opportunities that could transform…

Share

Somaiya FC announces trials for the upcoming 2024-25 Season

Somaiya FC, having secured a commendable 5th position in the MFA Super Division last season, has announced open trials as they gear up for upcoming season. The team, known for…

Share

VR Academy to conduct trials for 2024-25 Season

Mumbai based VR Academy has announced trials for the upcoming 2024-25 season. The club is looking for talented young players to join our esteemed academy and participate in various competitive…

Share

MH ORANJE FC U-17 Trials for the Upcoming Season

With a proud legacy of nurturing talent and achieving excellence, Maharashtra Oranje FC has recently made waves with appearances in I-League 2, securing a remarkable runner-up position in the fiercely…

Share

Football School of India announce trials for Young Talents

Football School of India (FSI) has announced trials for young football enthusiasts in the upcoming week of June. A golden opportunity for aspiring players to showcase their talents and potentially…

Share

Mumbai Super League club Charkop FC to conduct open trials for upcoming Season

Calling all aspiring football stars! Charkop FC, a MFA super division club based in Charkop, Kandivali, is set to conduct Open Trials for the upcoming season. About Charkop FC: In…

Share

Mumbai 42 Football Academy to conduct trials for Youth players

Newly established Mumbai 42 Football Academy will be conducting trials for young footballers in the upcoming week.

Share

SSE BFC to conduct trials for U9 to U17 age group players

SSE BFC Soccer School will be conducting fresh trials this month for players aged below 17 to be part of their football program SSE BFC Soccer Schools is a football…

Share

India Khelo Football Season 3 Trials for Mumbai and Thane are here

India Khelo Football (IKF) is back with Season 3 of its widely acclaimed trials with an aim to cover more than 50 cities this time around. After the resounding success…

Share