Indian women settle for draw against Uzbekistan

India U-20 women’s team drew 1-1 with Uzbekistan in a friendly in Tashkent, with Sulanjana Raul scoring late to cancel out Mexribon Egamberdiyeva’s first-half goal.

Hyderabad: The India Under-20 women’s national team drew 1-1 against Uzbekistan in the first of two friendly matches at the Do’stlik Stadium in Tashkent late on Monday night.

Mexribon Egamberdiyeva (38’) opened the scoring for the hosts, but Sulanjana Raul (79’) equalised for India late in the second half.

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The match, which was scheduled to kick off on Sunday, was postponed by 24 hours due to operational challenges at the venue.

Egamberdiyeva, who has already amassed four caps for the senior Uzbekistan women’s team, found herself at the right spot in the Indian box, to slot home the first goal, with just minutes left in the first 45 minutes.

ndia kept looking for a way back in the second half, and finally restored parity, when Sulanjana made the most of some confusion in the Uzbekistan penalty area after the defenders failed to clear a Remi Thokchom cross. Sulanjana latched on to the ball and scored to put India back on level terms.

The two sides are scheduled to play their second friendly (in preparation for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers later this year) on Wednesday, July 16.