India U-17 women’s football team loses 1-3 to Sweden in first match of exposure tour to Spain
ANI |
Updated: September 27, 2022 10:24 am IST
New Delhi [India]September 27 (ANI): The Indian U-17 Women’s team succumbed to a 1-3 defeat against Sweden at the Torremirona Relais in Spain, their first match of the exposure tour for the girls ahead of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup event back home.
On Monday, Sudha Tirkey (62′) scored the only goal for India after Sweden U-17 girls took a comfortable 3-0 lead through Ida Gramfors (44′), Sara Frigren (52′) and Selma Aström (54′).
However, India looked promising early on as they competed on equal terms in an intense midfield battle that saw winger Anita Kumari get an early shot at the rival goal, which was saved.
Minutes later, Nitu Linda tried her luck to take a shot from the edge of the Swedish penalty area, but was blocked.
India were awarded a free-kick in the 19th minute and Anita once again made an attempt at the rival goal, this time a header, but Swedish keeper Elin Ekmark saved it with ease. A few minutes later, Sweden striker Maja Jarvensivu tried a long ranger, which went over the crossbar.
Both Anita and India goalkeeper Anjali enjoyed a good first half. The former made a few runs around the half-hour mark, while the latter made some decent saves to keep his side in the game.
Despite the chances Thomas Dennerby’s girls created, it was Sweden who got the breakthrough near the break when Sara Frigren’s pass from a corner was met by Ida Gramfors and she bolted into the net.
Substitution Swedish girls dominated ball possession and created chances in front of the Indian goal. In the 47th minute, Sweden doubled their lead and scored one from Frigren’s return shot. Minutes later, Selma Aström scored the third of the night, making the most of a Frigren cross.
India head coach Dennerby made three changes, replacing Lynda Kom, Babina Devi and Varshika with Sudha, Shubhangi and Shilky as India pressed hard to find the target.
In the 62nd minute, Sudha made her immediate impact – she dribbled past her marker from an Astam long pass and slotted it in to pull one back for India.
Nitu Linda almost created a chance out of nowhere, when she cut down on a rival defender to dispossess the ball in Sweden’s penalty area. However, the Sweden goalkeeper was close at hand and managed to collect the ball.
With less than 20 minutes of regulation time left on the clock, Dennerby made more changes, bringing in Naketa, Lavanya and Shailja in place of Kajal, Neha and Kajol Dsouza. India continued to drive forward but could not score again, leaving Sweden to win the match by a 3-1 margin.
The 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup is scheduled to be held in India between October 11 and 30. The seventh edition of the biennial youth tournament will be the first women’s FIFA competition to be hosted by India. (ANI)