The Indian women’s football team began their AFC Women’s Asian Cup campaign with a 1–2 defeat against Vietnam, conceding a heartbreaking goal in injury time. The match also came after an embarrassing pre-match jersey mix-up, as kits meant for the under-15 team were mistakenly sent for the senior squad.

India entered the tournament in Australia to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, but their opening game ended in disappointment.

Vietnam take control early

India looked unsettled from the beginning and struggled to find rhythm in the opening stages despite preparations under new head coach Amelia Valverde. Vietnam took advantage of the shaky start and gradually dominated possession. The breakthrough came in the 30th minute when Van Su scored with a superb curling shot that beat the Indian defence and found the top-right corner.

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India showed better intent in the second half after Valverde introduced substitutes Sanfida Nongrum and Rimpa Haldar. The change worked quickly. In the 52nd minute, India equalised through a counter-attack as Sanfida, making her debut, finished calmly to level the score at 1–1. The goal lifted India’s confidence, and they pushed forward in search of a second goal, creating several attacking moves.

Last-minute goal seals defeat

Just when the match seemed headed for a draw, Vietnam struck in injury time. After the 90 minutes ended, four minutes were added by the referee. A defensive lapse allowed Van Su to remain completely unmarked, and she scored her second goal to secure a 2–1 win for Vietnam.

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The defeat puts India under pressure early in the tournament. Their next challenge will be a tough match against Japan on Saturday, where players like Manisha and Sangita will need to step up to keep India’s campaign alive.