Indian football wrap, February 19: Blue Tigresses gear up for Pink Ladies Cup; Sreenidi Deccan beats Rajasthan United

Indian football wrap, February 19: Blue Tigresses gear up for Pink Ladies Cup; Sreenidi Deccan beats Rajasthan United

The senior India women’s national football team returns to action in the FIFA International Window, gearing up to face Jordan in the first match of the Pink Ladies Cup 2025 on Thursday, at the Al Hamriya Sports Club Stadium in Sharjah, UAE.

Its head coach Crispin Chettri feels it imperative for his side to get the desired result in order to progress as a team at the continental level.

“Jordan has progressed in a good way over the last few years, but I think these are matches that we have to win if we want to progress,” said Chettri. “We have a good mix of young and experienced players, so it will be a competitive game.”

The Blue Tigresses had a 10-day camp in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, before travelling to Sharjah, where they will have two training sessions, before their first match.

The 44-year-old feels that women’s football, especially the national team, has benefitted from the shift to a longer Indian Women’s League season.

“We could only get a 10-day camp before the Pink Ladies Cup, but the good thing is that the players are already in mid-season, so we don’t have to spend any time on their fitness,” he said. “We could straight away get into working on certain tactical areas and how to organise as a unit.

“We are setting up a base which we can further build on.”

India is ranked 13th in Asia (69th in the world), while Jordan is 14th (74th in the world). Chettri, however, brushed aside talks of the difference in rankings of the teams.

“It’s a transitional phase for the team, where we have brought in a lot of new players. We are all willing to suffer for the overall good of the team,” said Chettri. “I think it’s important to support and encourage these girls because most of them are breaking a lot of barriers just by being here. We must focus on the positives right now.”

The two sides have played three matches against each other, having won one each, and drawing one match.

India will play two more matches against Russia and the Korea Republic on February 23 and 26, respectively, with all matches streamed live on fanzone.tv.

Sreenidi Deccan ended Rajasthan United FC’s 10-match unbeaten streak with a 2-1 victory in their I-League 2024-25 match at the Vidyadhar Nagar Stadium, on Wednesday, February 18, 2025. Sreenidi led 1-0 at the break.

David Castaneda Munoz (73’) netted his 10th goal of the tournament to become the joint second-highest scorer in the league this season.

Angel Gabriel Orelien (43’) opened the scoring for the visitors. Maicol Cabrera (75’) scored the solitary goal for Rajasthan United, which saw its 10-match unbeaten streak break on Wednesday.

The win, however, didn’t help much in altering Sreenidi Deccan’s position in the standings.

It occupies the ninth spot with 19 points from 15 matches. Rajasthan United is seventh with 21 points from 15 games.

Meanwhile, Brazilian Daniel Goncalves struck his second goal of the match deep into added time to help Shillong Lajong FC snatch a 2-2 draw against Dempo Sports Club in the I-League 2024-25 match at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

The home side led 1-0 at half time.

In a match of fluctuating fortunes, Dempo took the lead in the 39th minute through Marcus Leric Jr. Joseph before Daniel Goncalves restored parity for Lajong two minutes into the second half.

Mohamed Ali regained the lead for Dempo five minutes later, but Goncalves again came to Shillong Lajong’s rescue by breaching the Dempo defence in the 90+7th minute.

Shillong, with 23 points from 15 matches, are placed fifth on the table, whereas Dempo dropped a place to find themselves in the ninth with 19 points from 15 outings.

The India U20 women’s team made a rousing start in the Pink Ladies U20 Youth Cup when they beat Jordan 2-1 at the Emirhan Sports Center in Manavgat, Türkiye, on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

The Young Tigresses found themselves trailing via a penalty at the break before Lhingdeikim and Pooja scored in the second half to secure the comeback win.

This was coach Joakim Alexandersson’s third win in a row with the Indian national team after leading the senior side to two friendly victories over Maldives earlier this year.

The Swedish coach’s strategy was clear from the start – keep possession, press high and not allow Jordan time and space to build from the back. The Young Tigresses created plenty of chances but must’ve been disappointed not to convert any in the first half.

Lhingdeikim launched India’s first shot on target in the second minute that was straight at the goalkeeper. Neha and Pooja were lively as usual on the wings, having a go at the full-backs and pumping in crosses. The former put a teasing delivery flash across the face of the goal with no one to convert before picking out Babita Kumari, who sent her header over the bar.

Captain Kajol Dsouza and Anju Chanu, making her youth international debut, were also dominant in midfield, constantly pressing and finding spaces on the overlap. Kajol also saw a couple of 20-yard shots swerve wide of the target.

Jordan was awarded a penalty when goalkeeper Monalisha Devi pushed an opponent into the box in the 35th minute, which Jinan Said converted. Monalisha, who virtually had nothing to do until that moment in the match, got her right palm to the ball but it wasn’t enough to keep it out.

The Young Tigresses, on the other hand, clicked and translated their dominance into goals in the second half.

Lhingdeikim, who scored four on her international debut last month, got India the equaliser in the 63rd minute. Receiving the ball outside the box, she beat a couple of her markers and squeezed a curling shot into the bottom corner from 10 yards to make it all square.

Alexandersson’s substitutions paid off as the introduction of Cindy Colney and Sibani Devi increased the pace of attack. Sibani created the second goal in the 77th minute with her electric pace. She burst forward down the right and sent an inch-perfect cutback for Pooja, who didn’t waste any time and steered a first-time right-footed shot from a narrow-angle that went into the far corner.

India will play two more friendly matches against Hong Kong (February 22) and Russia (February 25) at the same venue.