Sydney, March 10 A disappointing Indian team lost to Chinese Taipei in their crucial group stage match, resulting in a 1-3 defeat. This loss effectively ended India's chances of progressing in the AFC Women's Asian Cup.
Despite dominating much of the game and creating numerous scoring opportunities, India's inability to convert these chances proved costly. This led to an early exit, especially since they had qualified for the prestigious tournament on merit for the first time.
Manisha Kalyan scored India's lone goal in the 39th minute, unleashing a powerful shot from about 30 yards to find the target.
Chinese Taipei took the lead in the 12th minute when Y H Su slotted the ball inside an empty goal post after a poor back pass from Sanju to J W Chen. Indian goalkeeper Elangbam Panthoi Chanu had come off her line hoping to stop Chen, who successfully squared the ball to Su.
India then fought back, but just before half time (45+8), Y. Y. Hsu's shot hit the upright corner of the post and deflected off Panthoi and into the India goal.
This followed a foul committed by Pyari Xaxa inside the box, leading to a penalty.
The match was effectively over when Yu-Chin Chen scored Chinese Taipei's third goal in the 77th minute, getting the better of Panthoi after a run down the right side.
India had previously lost to Vietnam and Japan, and to advance to the next stage of the tournament, the Blue Tigresses needed to defeat Chinese Taipei by at least two goals on Tuesday, and Japan needed to defeat Vietnam.
While Japan won against Vietnam 4-0, India could not achieve their goal.
Earlier, the Blue Tigresses began strongly, with a Manisha corner almost leading to a goal in the second minute. Soumya Guguloth saved the header from the corner, and Xaxa then cleared the rebound, causing confusion in the Chinese Taipei defense.
Chinese Taipei quickly countered with Chen Jin-wen taking a shot from inside the Indian box, but it narrowly missed the far post.
India had a similar chance at the other end, when Nirmala played it to Manisha, who threaded it through to Soumya, who also narrowly missed.
India goalkeeper Panthoi made a good save off of a YC Chen shot in the 10th minute, but was left stranded a couple of minutes later, when a double error at the back gifted Chinese Taipei the lead.
India finally leveled the score when they were awarded a free-kick about 25 yards out. Huang Ke-sin's push on Soumya in the 38th minute led to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervening, as a possible red card offense was being checked.
However, the VAR deemed the referee's original decision of a yellow card to Huang to be correct.
A minute later, Manisha produced a thunderous free-kick that struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced out of play, before being cleared. The VAR was once again called upon, and a goal was soon awarded to India, who had leveled the score.
Panthoi, who has made numerous saves in the Asian Cup, produced another impressive save in the first half injury time, when YC Chen's powerful effort struck the onrushing India goalkeeper on the face.
While the immediate danger was averted, disaster struck a minute later, when Chinese Taipei were awarded a penalty. YY Hsu, who stepped up, however, only managed to hit the woodwork.
However, the ball struck the back of Panthoi, who had dived in the correct direction, and rolled over the line for Chinese Taipei to take the lead once more.
India started the second half with greater intent, as Rimpa Haldar replaced Soumya Guguloth. Manisha, who had been wide on the right, cut inside and took a shot, but it went wide.
At the other end, captain Sweety Devi Ngangbam made a crucial block off a YH Su shot, minutes before Panthoi pulled off another brilliant save, this time denying the attacker, who was through on goal.
However, India's repeated attempts to get back on level terms ultimately proved unsuccessful. YY Hsu played YC Chen through behind the India back-four, as the latter rounded Panthoi and scored in an empty goal.
Panthoi, while charging at Chen, collided with Sweety, and both players had to be stretchered off.
India had a few chances in the closing stages, with Sanfida having her 86th-minute volley blocked by Teng Pei-lin, while Manisha's 89th-minute free-kick took a deflection before substitute goalkeeper Chen Ssu-yu swiped it away.
The Chinese Taipei substitute keeper, in the last minute of regulation time, had to make yet another save off of a Manisha free-kick.