SHILLONG, 22 October (H.S.): A clinical second-half performance from substitute Sara Didar condemned the Indian Senior Women’s Football Team to a 0-2 defeat against Iran in the opening match of the Tri-Nation Women’s International Friendship Tournament on Tuesday.

The visiting side proved too strong at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, securing the win with two well-taken goals.After a cagey and goalless first half, the momentum of the match shifted decisively in Iran’s favor. The deadlock was broken in the 64th minute when a precise cross from Melika Motevalitaher found Zahra Ghanbari, whose header struck the crossbar.

The rebound fell kindly to Didar, who executed a brilliant acrobatic finish to give Iran a deserved lead.Just ten minutes later, Didar capitalized on a defensive error by Ratanbala Devi. She seized the opportunity, drove forward, and dispatched a low, powerful shot past the Indian goalkeeper to double the advantage and put the game beyond reach.

The result was a setback for the Blue Tigresses, who had delivered a historic performance in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers earlier this year but appeared lackluster on this occasion. Iran demonstrated superior tactical coordination and physical strength from the outset, controlling the tempo of the game.

India’s best chance to score came in the 89th minute, but Linda Kom Serto’s powerful free-kick was met with a spectacular save by Iranian goalkeeper Raha Yazdani. Iran nearly added a third goal in stoppage time, but a shot from Fatemeh Shaban Gohroud rebounded off the post.

India will now aim to regroup ahead of their next fixture against Nepal on October 27.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar