Navi Mumbai: The Indian women’s team waste countless opportunities in the performance that fully dominated when Iran held them with less than a draw in the opening match of their Asian Cup here on Thursday.
Head coach Thomas Dennerby will be disappointed with the results of the match as a low-ranking victory against Iran will place his team in a comfortable position in his offer to qualify for the quarter-finals.
But he must be happy in part when his people faced some good views of ownership and past football, especially in the second round, at Dy Patil Stadium.
He would hope that his team continued in the same tone and scored in the second match on Sunday against Taipei China, which struggled 0-4 by China in the previous match, to maintain the prospect of their quarter-finals.
Indians will expect Iran to be defensive in their approach but turned out to be the opposite in the early period.
Iran, ranked 55 against India 55th, was a better side in the opening minutes where they got two chances to score, including a hit on the crossbar, but the home team took control of the group that fits the round First and dominate until the end.
Iran had two chances in the period they dominated with captain Behnaz Taherkhani from Samaneh Chahkandi’s free kick from the crossbar after defeating Aditi Chauhan goalkeeper in the 12th minute.
Even though Captain Ashalata Devi was a solid stone in Deep Defense, Iran almost led in the 19th minute when the Indian defender’s header backed down and fell before Zandi’s negotiated, who sent the ball under pressure.
After absorbing initial pressure, India settled and came alone.
Indumathi, however, could not hold the volley in the 24th minute while the free Sweetha Kalyan header was six minutes later sailing on the bar.
But the best chance for India came in the 32nd minute.
SCUFFED PYARI XAXA shot fell properly for Indolumi, but the toe-pode took the ball above the bar.
India washing soccer dishes passing through the second half and they were in all the shaken Iranian teams that had nothing to do but survived desperately.
Dennerby’s side was not lucky not to score and win the match easily.
Iranian goalkeeper Zohreh Koujaei made rescue after saving to deny Indians full of three points.
When India pressed a goal, Iran defended by interfering while facing the flood of attack.
Indians all overdoish, shots, toes, headers – all in the Iranian box but the goal is still dodging the home team.
In the 51st minute, Manha Kalyan sent a low cross from the left but Pyari Xaxas Toe-Pode went to width.
A minute later, XAXA again could not reach the ball from a beautiful pass from Sandhya Ranganathan, because Iranians made the last defense.
At the hour sign, Indumathi’s shot hit the side net after a good buildup.
The appearance of Rahmat Dangmei in Sandhya’s place increases the tempo of Indian attacks.
Another big opportunity for India came in the 76th minute but Dangmei’s header in front of a goal was opened somehow saved by the goalkeeper who made extraordinary recovery after being beaten.
Dangmei lost the opportunity towards the end because he was a little late to take a shot in front of the goal and an Iranian defender came to save with the last tackle.
India did not give the name Sweety Devi and Linthoingambi Devi (goalkeeper) in match day matches from their 2 23 members.
Also, Panthoi Devi was added as a goalkeeper.
Two players who were not named were positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday.
India plays Taipei China on Sunday.