Ranzi Sports

The senior Indian women’s national team suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat against Uzbekistan in the second of two FIFA Women’s International Friendlies held at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence on Tuesday.

Following their 0-1 loss in the first friendly, Tuesday’s match offered hope for redemption. The Blue Tigresses showed a marked improvement in intensity and intent, playing with more aggression and tactical discipline. Unlike the cautious approach and struggles in transition seen in the first fixture, India pressed higher up the pitch and tried to take control of the game.

The defense, marshaled by the tireless efforts of Thokchom Martina and her backline partners, worked hard to contain Uzbekistan’s pacey attack. Their positioning and communication were notably sharper, and when the backline was breached, goalkeeper Payal Basude stood tall, making several crucial saves in the first half. One of the most notable moments came when Nozimakhon Ergasheva struck the crossbar with a powerful shot in the 11th minute.

In midfield, India looked more cohesive, effectively using the width of the pitch to stretch the Uzbek defense. Sangita Basfore helped build attacks from deep, while fullback Ranjana Chanu injected pace and creativity on the right flank.

India’s best chance arrived in the 21st minute when Ranjana sent in a dangerous cross from the right. Pyari Xaxa met it with a strong header at the far post, but the Uzbekistan keeper made a reflex save. The rebound fell kindly to Sangita, but she was unable to direct her shot on target. This missed opportunity would come back to haunt the hosts.

Just four minutes into the second half, Uzbekistan struck with a moment of brilliance from Nilufar Kudratova. Picking up the ball on the edge of the box, she skipped past two defenders with elegant footwork before unleashing a fierce left-footed strike that flew past Payal Basude into the top corner—a goal worthy of winning any match.

The setback momentarily unsettled the Blue Tigresses, but they regrouped and pushed forward again. Soumya Guguloth and Pyari Xaxa continued to test the Uzbekistan defense, while substitutes brought fresh energy. Despite several promising moves, the final pass or shot often lacked the sharpness needed to level the score.

In the end, India fell short, but the performance was anything but disheartening. The Blue Tigresses displayed resilience, tactical awareness, and attacking hunger qualities they had been criticized for lacking in their previous outing.