India settled for a 1-1 draw in opposition to hosts Vietnam to be knocked out of competition for Round 2 of the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers, right here on March 11.
Needing a win of their last Group F match to make the reduce, India drew first blood by means of Babina Devi’s Twelfth-minute strike. But the goal was cancelled out by Tran Nhat Lan (45+2nd).
Both groups completed on seven factors from three matches every within the four-team group.
However, India (+13) had been knocked out due to their inferior goal difference with Vietnam (+14).
India received in opposition to Singapore and Indonesia of their opening two fixtures, and all of it boiled right down to their last spherical group conflict in opposition to the hosts.
The recreation kicked off with India within the ascendancy, the hosts’ nervousness evident of their incapability to string clear passes within the midfield.
In the Twelfth minute, Babina Devi produced a second of magic when she picked up a half-cleared header from Neha’s cross round 30 yards from goal, took a neat first contact and let fly.
The ball rocketed into the highest left nook, Vietnam goalkeeper Danh Thi Kieu My’s fingers greedy at it however unable to do rather more.
Shocked and a bit dazed, Vietnam began stringing collectively passes and controlling extra of the sport, whereas India regarded glad to take a seat again and play on the counter.
Right on the stroke of half time, Vietnam had their reward. The ball fell to Tran Nhat Lan, who let fly solely to see her shot bounce off the put up.
Fortuitously, the rebound went by means of a number of shirts and fell again to her. This time, she turned, twisted and positioned the ball into the alternative nook to draw her staff degree.
Vietnam slowed the sport down within the second interval, drawing fouls, and turning the match right into a somewhat uninteresting affair.
Coach Maymol Rocky’s two substitutes Sumati Kumari and Mousumi Murmu introduced some much-needed vigour to a floundering entrance line, however had been unable to pierce the Vietnam defence.
India thus crashed out regardless of being unbeaten in three video games.
