Indian women take on Uzbekistan in second friendly

Regrouped and refreshed after a narrow 0-1 defeat in the first of two FIFA Women’s International Friendlies, the senior Indian women’s national football team is set to face Uzbekistan once again

Hyderabad: Regrouped and refreshed after a narrow 0-1 defeat in the first of two FIFA Women’s International Friendlies, the senior Indian women’s national football team is set to face Uzbekistan once again on Tuesday in Bengaluru.

The second match will kick off at 4:30 PM IST at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence, and will be streamed live on the Indian Football YouTube channel.

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Head coach Crispin Chettri, who handed debuts to Manisha Naik, Malavika P, and Priyadharshini Selladurai in the first game, confirmed that the second match will also be experimental in nature.

“Both matches are completely experimental for us. Giving chances to new players and assessing their mindset at this level is of paramount importance,” said Chettri.

He hinted at a possible change in formation, though the team’s core philosophy would remain unchanged. He also emphasized the need for composure and control.

“Uzbekistan is physically and technically sound. All their players are well-drilled in their roles and excel in set-pieces — whether it’s corners, free-kicks, or throw-ins,” he added.

Chettri noted that, given the short turnaround time between matches, wholesale changes aren’t feasible, but the team has addressed a few of its shortcomings.

On the other side, Uzbekistan head coach Kotryna Kulbytė was pleased with her team’s performance in the first match.

“A victory is a victory, and I believe our players earned it. It was encouraging to see tactical routines from training come alive on the pitch. Of course, there’s still a lot to improve — but that’s part of the journey,” she said.