Indian women’s football team suffers 0-2 defeat against IR Iran in Tri-Nation Friendlies

India’s senior women’s team fell to a 0-2 defeat against IR Iran in their opening match of the Tri-Nation Women's International Friendlies. Two second-half goals from Sara Didar handed the visitors a deserved win. India’s next match is against Nepal on October 27

Hyderabad: It was a bitter evening for the Indian senior women’s football team as they slumped to a 0-2 defeat against IR Iran in the opening match of the Tri-Nation Women’s International Friendlies at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. Two second-half goals from substitute Sara Didar sank the hosts and handed Iran a victory, after the first half ended goalless.

For India, the match marked their return to action following a historic AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualification campaign earlier this year, and served as their first challenge in preparations for next March’s Asian Cup in Australia.

---

The Blue Tigresses looked off-color and tentative, while Iran, by contrast, were composed, physically superior on the ball, and dictated the rhythm of the game almost from the outset. Every time the visitors attacked, India’s defense wavered.

The tone was set as early as the fourth minute. A routine cross was fumbled by Panthoi, allowing Fatemeh Shaban Ghohrood to pounce on the loose ball. Only a desperate clearance from Phanjoubam Nirmala Devi prevented Iran from taking the lead, with the ball glancing off the post and going out of danger. Iran grew in confidence, stringing together flowing moves, while India struggled to create anything meaningful in the final third.

Iran’s persistence paid off in the 64th minute. Melika Motevaliitaher floated in a precise cross from the right, and India’s backline switched off. An unmarked Zahra Ghanbari rose to head the ball against the crossbar. The ball fell kindly for Sara Didar, who acrobatically smashed home the rebound.

In the 74th minute, Nongmaithem Ratanbala Devi misjudged the bounce of a routine clearance at the top of the box, allowing Didar to snatch the ball. The forward showed no hesitation, rifling a low strike past Panthoi to make it 2-0 and break Indian resistance once again.

As the clock ticked down, India’s lack of cutting-edge became painfully clear. Their first real test of Iran’s goalkeeper Raha Yazdani came only in the 89th minute, when Lynda Kom Serto’s low free-kick was parried away.

The visitors came close to adding a third in stoppage time, with Ghohrood racing down the left and rattling the post. By then, the match had long slipped away from India, who will play their next game against Nepal on October 27. Iran will meet Nepal on October 24.