Injury time targets lift Sweden beyond India
In their opening match in the WU23 3 Nations Tournament, Team India were heartbroken when a strike during injury time gave Sweden’s hosts a narrow 1-0 victory at Ängelholm on 22 June.
Linn Vickius from Sweden scored the only goal that turned out to be the difference between the teams on Wednesday.
Sweden started the match on the front foot and were close to scoring when they hit the crossbar. But the Indian team managed to suck up the press and showed intent when they went up to attack.
With 12 minutes played, Manisha Kalyan could have brought this one home for Martina Thokchom as he charged up on the left, but his hooked ball went just a bit too high. Manisha tried to place the ball in the net but it ended up with the shot being aimed straight into the hands of the grateful Swedish guard.
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Manisha made another shot after 35 minutes on the board, but her effort was disallowed by the Swedish defense unit.
Anju Tamang was recorded before the break, but the Swedish goalkeeper Emma Holmgren took home the headstrong long ball.
Indian goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan had to be strong in the back to nullify a number of goal attempts from the hosts as the chances came quickly and quickly for the Swedish team.
Both teams went to the break with the score still 0-0 and a lot of football left to play in the second half.
After the break, Sweden went to several attacks when they managed to keep the ball well, but the Indian back line remained steady and kept the position even.
Indian coach Suren Chettri made a couple of changes when he got Ratanbala Devi and Pyari Xaxa to replace Priyangka Devi and Renu Rani after 52 minutes of play.
The Indian unit defended deeply before Pyari came very close to giving the Blue Tigresses the lead when she was recorded by Manisha’s exact pass from the left, but the substitute missed the target with a hair.
Soumya Guguloth came on for Dangemei Grace 78 minutes into the game.
India had another attempt at goal when Martina’s effort sailed straight into the hands of Swedish guardian Holmgren. Apurna Narzary came on for Manisha Kalyan as Chettri made his last substitution for the evening.
In extra time, Ebba Hed’s corner looked from the right to Linn Vickius who hit the ball home to salvage a victory for his team in the eleventh hour.
Team India will face the United States in their next match on June 25. The match starts at 18.30 IST.
INDIA: Aditi Chauhan (GK), Sweety Devi, Ashalata Devi (C), Priyangka Devi (Ratanbala Devi 52 ‘), Anju Tamang, Dangmei Grace (Soumya Guguloth 78’), Martina Thokchom, Ranjana Chanu, Manisha (Apurna Narzary 90 + 4 ‘) ), Dalima Chhibber, Renu (Pyari Xaxa 53 ‘).
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