Football: India U-19 Women go down to Uzbekistan

Amman: It was bright sunny in the morning and from nowhere the dark clouds appeared overhead an hour prior to the kick-off. And then, as the Teams marched in, it started to drizzle.

In what was a match of two contrasting halves, India U-19 Women fought their heart out but went down to a superior Uzbekistan U-19 Women’s Team in the opening match of the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship China 2015 Qualifiers at the Petra Stadium in Amman on Wednesday (November 5).

If the first half was totally one-sided with Uzbekistan ruling roost right from kick-off, rival Goalkeeper Tilovova Laylo’s reflexes denied India from equalizing in the second, and, maybe even running away with a victory.

Uzbek Midfielder Kudratova, omnipresent, and operating from the hole scored a brace in the first-half itself to make the difference between the two sides, a lead which the rivals managed to hold on till the end.

In the first half, Indian Goalkeeper Panthoi stayed the busiest one on the field. Her anticipation and agility kept India alive in the match, the absence of which could have settled the issue for Uzbekistan in the first-half itself.

Even in the second-half when the Indians dominated, Panthoi’ presence under the bar made it impossible for the Uzbeks to increase their lead.

The moment it kicked-off, Uzbekistan pushed India into their own half, preferring to stretch it to the flanks, thus creating an open space from where Kudratova marshaled. They played it in the vacant spaces between the Defenders allowing space to manouvre.

Nevertheless, it was India who earned the first corner in the 3rd minute itself but the Uzbeks managed to thwart it off. The other chance for India came in the 19th minute but Sanju’s shot narrowly missed the mark after Pyari Xaxa had sped down the right flank to set it up for her.

Changing over, the Sun reappeared from behind the Clouds and the Indian Girls started on a brighter note. They activated the flanks and quite evidently the first chance came in the 48th minute but rival Goalkeeper Tilovova Laylo managed to palm off Sangita’s powerful left-footer from close. Five minutes later, Laylo again came to her Team’s rescue collecting Dalima’s free-kick on the bounce.

Head Coach PV Priya brought in two changes – Sweety Devi coming in for Muthu in the 55th minute, and then in the 62nd minute, Hemolata Devi replaced Velanie Fernandes.

Uzbekistan by then had recovered from India’s initial onslaught and depended more on counter-attacks. However, India again caught the Uzbek defence on the wrong foot when Dilnoza failed to read Panthoi’s clearance but just managed to recover in even as Sangita was all shaped up to pull the trigger.

Even as Uzbekistan began to tire a bit, India’s easiest chance fell to Pyari after an overlapping Sangita found her in the clear. But Laylo stretched below to keep her effort at bay.

The spring in the steps of the Indian Girls stayed till the end, evidence of which stayed Dalima’s goal line clearance after Kudratova had tried to address it to the net. Dalima followed it up after Kudratova beat an onrushing Panthoi but the Indian Captain, following it up, cleared from the goalline.

Another chance fell in the 85th minute but Laylo once again stood tall -- this time deflecting a powerful Dangmei Grace free-kick from the top of the box for another corner. If that wasn’t enough, in the 88th minute, she anticipated in time to narrow the angle for Pyari but even as the latter evaded the former’s outstretched hands, Central Defender Maftune perfected her slide in time to clear from the goalline.

Head Coach Priya PV lauded her girls for their fight. “Uzbekistan defended well. They won almost every aerial ball. But we had our chances and should have finished it off,” she maintained at the Official post-match Press Conference.

INDIA: Panthoi; Tony, Muthu Selvi (Sweety Devi – 55th), Dalima Chibber (Captain), Rachita; Nikhila Thumbayil, Sangita (Margaret Devi – 85th), Sanju, Gangmei Grace, Pyari Xaxa, Velanie Fernandes (Hemolata Devi – 62nd).
By Nilanjan Datta,
AIFF Media Team