India suffered a 0-1 defeat at the hands of Uzbekistan at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence in the first of two friendlies on Friday.
After a goalless first half, Diyorakhon Khabibullaeva (56’) scored the only goal of the match to hand Uzbekistan the win.
India head coach Crispin Chettri handed out three debuts to midfielder Priyadharshini and attackers Manisha Naik and Malavika.
India goalkeeper and captain Panthoi Chanu did well to keep the Uzbekistan attackers at bay in the opening exchanges. She did especially well to collect the ball from Nilufar Kudratova in the eighth minute after the Uzbekistan forward was played through behind the India defence.
A little after the half-hour mark, Diyorakhon ran on to an aerial through ball, and had just Panthoi to beat. However, India centre-back Shilky Devi showed good presence of mind to contain the Uzbekistan forward.
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Chettri brought striker Pyari Xaxa into the game instead of Manisha Naik, thus pushing Grace into the midfield. The move seemed to have been working in the initial stages of the second half, as India began to enjoy long bouts of possession in the Uzbekistan half. However, it also left the side more susceptible to a counter-attack, which resulted in the deciding goal.
Maftuna Shoyimova, who was freed down the left flank, sent in a pinpoint cross into the India box, as Diyorakhon tapped it in from close range in the 56th minute, to give her side the lead.
Diyorakhon had a chance to double the lead on the hour mark when she tried to volley another cross, this time from the left, but the forward could not connect with the ball, as Panthoi plucked it out of the air.
India went searching for the equaliser with Pyari being the focal point. Phanjoubam Nirmala Devi sent in a looping cross from the right, which was headed goalwards by Pyari. However, the header lacked power and rolled wide with around 20 minutes to go.
The two sides will meet in the second friendly on June 3.
Content Source: sportstar.thehindu.com