Indian women’s national after losing their first international friendly 3-0 against Vietnam at the VYFTC Ground in Hanoi, Vietnam on Sunday came back strongly to fight out a 1-1 draw on Wednesday (November 6, 2019). Both the sides scored on either side of the half-time. While Thai Thi Thao put the hosts in the lead in the 39th minute, India came back strongly in the second half to equalise through Ranjana Chanu.
Vietnam are currently ranked 34 in the FIFA Ranking in comparison to India at 58.
India had their first real chance around the half-hour mark, when Dangmei Grace broke clear but her effort went wide. Soon after, Aditi made a great save to thwart a counter-attack.
Spurred, the Indian women pressed hard and managed to get a free-kick from a dangerous position. But striker Bala Devi’s effort also went wide of the target. India went on to rue it as Thai Thi Thao soon put Vietnam in the lead with six minutes left for the half-time.
Changing over, Vietnam goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh was put to some real test. She pulled off two crucial saves to keep her side in the lead – the first one was a close-range free-kick by attacker Sanju, while the second one was from a shot by centre back Sweety Devi, who had a crack at goal from a distance.
India eventually got the breakthrough that they were looking for in the 37th minute when Ranjana Chanu was played on goal by captain Ashalata Devi, and the former made no mistake to slot home.
Head Coach Maymol Rocky brought in Anju Tamang in place of Daya Devi around half an hour left on the clock. Sanju did have a chance late on from a close-range free-kick, but the ball flew wide of goal, as the match ended with a 1-1 score.
Vietnam had earlier won the first International Friendly 3-0 with goals from Thi Nhung (8′), Thi Van (82′) and Thi Thuy Hang (89′) for the host to secure the comfortable win.
INDIA: Aditi Chauhan (GK); Roja Devi, Ashalata Devi (C), Sweety Devi, Ranjana Chanu; Sangita Basfore, Ratanbala Devi, Daya Devi (Anju Tamang 67’); Sanju, Dangmei Grace, Bala Devi.