AFC U-19 Qualifiers: India women beat Thailand 1-0 but fails to advance into second round

The Indian women’s football team defeated Thailand 1-0 but failed to progress into the next round of the AFC U-19 Championship Qualifiers in Chonburi on Sunday.

Grace Lalrampari scored the lone goal for India in the 36^th minute to help her side to a memorable victory. The win put India on level with both Thailand and Nepal, but the subcontinent team was ruled out via a goal difference losing to Nepal in the head-to-head count. With three teams level on same points, Thailand finished on top with a goal difference of +2, while both India and Nepal had -1 goal difference.

But India lost out on head-to-head count, while Nepal went through to the second round of the qualifiers.

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Coming into the match, Thailand had better ball possession, but India stopped them from creating chances to score by pressing high and hurrying the opponent into shots. India could have gone ahead as early as the third minute when intercepting a pass on the left channel Roja played a quick one-two with Renu, before taking a shot from the edge of the box. Her shot was, however, out of target.

India were then hit with a roadblock after Pakpi went down with an injury and had to be stretched off. She was then replaced by Sanathopki Devi as Thailand slowly got into the game and attacked the Indian flanks. They put numerous crosses on the Indian box but the defenders aided by goalkeeper Archana thwarted any danger that came their way.

Eventually, they took the lead in the 36^th minute against the run of play. Constantly threatening on the left flank, Manisha sent in a perfect cross into the Thai box for Grace to put them ahead. Minutes later they came agonizingly close to doubling their goal tally.

Sanathokpi’s clearance was wonderfully received by Renu, who breezed past two Thai defenders to create a one-on-one situation with just the opposition goalkeeper to beat. But her low shot to the post’s left was saved by Thai keeper Ponpimon.

The Indian girls played with such confidence that Thailand’s first proper chance to score came in the 69^th minute – by that time India could have scored thrice had they taken their own chances – but Ratchaphan’s shot from a Chatchawan low-cross sailed over the bar.

The home team increased their tempo in the final few minutes with Chatchawan at the center of most o those attacks. She fought her way into the India box twice in the closing stages, but while in the first she dragged her shot wide, in the second it was beautifully saved by Archana.