India hoping for another solid performance after win against Kyrgyzstan

Buoyed by their emphatic 5-0 win against Kyrgyzstan in the first round of the AFC Olympic Qualifiers, the Indian women’s football team will look to carry on the momentum when they take on the hosts in the second leg here on Friday. After five disappointing results in the first three months of the year, the Indian team, playing under the guidance of Thomas Dennerby, returned to winning ways by defeating Kyrgyzstan at the Dolen Umarjakov Stadium in the first match of the two-stage Group G match on Tuesday.

Four different players scored for India in the first leg, raising hopes of a good show for the team in the second leg. In the first leg match, Anju Tamang scored twice for India while Soumya Guguloth, Shilki Devi and Renu scored one goal each. Dennerby said, “We were desperate to score in the first match because we were playing without many of our top goalscorers.”

He said, “Tomorrow I again wish that there is no goal against our team. I have no doubt that we will get opportunities but I want the players to replicate the strength of the defense they showed during the first match. A win or a draw in Friday’s match will seal India’s place in the second round of the AFC Olympic Qualifiers. . India had earlier reached the second round once during the Tokyo Olympic qualifiers but were ousted by Myanmar on goal difference.