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India vs Iran Live Score, Asian Cup 2022 Football Match Updates: Iran put in a fighting performance to hold India to a goalless draw in their first match. Match preview: A FIFA World Cup play-offs spot within their grasp, hosts India would seek a winning start against an under-prepared and lower-ranked Iran in their women’s AFC Asian Cup campaign opener on Thursday. Hosting the continental showpiece for the second time after 1979, India would look to script history by qualifying for the quarter-finals of the 12-team tournament, which will see some of Asia’s and the world’s best players in action. India had finished runners-up twice — in 1979 and 1983 — and third in 1981. A win against Iran at the DY Patil Stadium will assure India of at least a third-place finish in Group A. Besides the two top teams, two third-placed sides across the three groups will also qualify for the quarter-finals. Iran are the lowest-ranked team in the group which also has China and Chinese Taipei. They are ranked at 70th in the world as against India’s 55th. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian team had the luxury of a good number of exposure tours and international matches last year, including against former World Cup runners-up side Brazil. These international match experience is expected to keep Thomas Dennerby’s team in good stead even though the hosts are playing without star striker Bala Devi who is recovering from surgery. On the other hand, debutants Iran, who began their journey in international football only in 2005, have not played any international match in the last six months. All the semi-finalists from the tournament will directly qualify for the 2023 FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Two more teams from the remaining four quarter-finalists will also get direct berths to the World Cup if Australia make it to the semi-finals of this tournament, which is highly probable. That means even the teams that lose in the quarter-finals can directly qualify for the World Cup if they win the play-off matches of the AFC Asian Cup on 2 and 4 February. The two losing quarter-finalists will feature in the Intercontinental play-offs. Iran will be playing in their maiden AFC Asian Cup after defeating Jordan in a penalty shoot-out in the qualifying round. “We have analyzed the Indian team, and are aware that they are strong and fast. Despite our lack of experience, we are motivated. We have reached this level and we we are ready,” Iran head coach Maryam Irandoost said. India have played just three times against Iran in the past and have won twice — 3-1 in 2007 and 1-0 in 2019. The other match was won by Iran 4-1 in the second leg of AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in 2007. Eight-time champions China face Chinese Taipei in the tournament opener at Mumbai Football Arena earlier in the day. India Squad (From): Aditi Chauhan, Maibam Linthoingambi Devi, Sowmiya Narayanasamy, Dalima Chhibber, Sweety Devi Ngangbam, Ritu Rani, Loitongbam Ashalata Devi, Manisa Panna, Hemam Shilky Devi, Sanju Yadav, Yumnam Kamala Devi, Anju Tamang, Karthika Angamuthu, Nongmeithem Ratanbala Devi, Naorem Priyangka Devi, Indumathi Kathiresan, Manisha Kalyan, Grace Dangmei, Pyari Xaxa, Renu, Sumati Kumari, Sandhiya Ranganathan, Mariyammal Balamurugan. What time is the match? India will take on Iran in their first match of the tournament at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The match will start at 7.30 PM IST. Where can I watch the match? The match will be broadcast on Eurosport and can also be live streamed on JioTV. You can follow firstpost.com for live blog of the match. With PTI inputs Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .
Highlights, India vs Iran, Asian Cup Football Match: Iran hold hosts India to goalless draw
Iran put in a fighting performance to hold India to a goalless draw in their first match.
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Iran had some good first 10-20 minutes but from thereon India took control of the game. After failing to score in the first half they created a flurry of chances in the second. Unfortunately, they couldn’t find the back of the net and start their campaign with a 0-0 draw against Iran.
Their next game is on 23 January against Chinese Taipei. We are done for the night. See ya!
It ends goalless!
India 0-0 Iran
Blue Tigresses played a very good game and did everything they could, but just weren’t clinical enough in front of the goal.
India 0-0 Iran
90’ Tackle from behind on Dangmei as she was about to pull the trigger. India appeal for a penalty but it was a clean tackle.
India 0-0 Iran
86’ Renu had a chance after the goalkeeper dropped Dangmei cross from the right side but the Indian attacker failed to make proper contact.
India 0-0 Iran
85’ The game has slowed down quite a lot. Dangmei injected a lot of pace into India’s play after coming on but after creating a flurry of chances, Indian players now look a bit tired, probably as a result of their poor finishing.
India 0-0 Iran
82’ Shilky and Sumathi come on for India in place of Ratanbala and Manisha.
India 0-0 Iran
80’ 10 more minutes to go! India have come close on multiple occasions but it continues to be goalless. Dangmei Grace’s introduction has lifted India’s game.
India 0-0 Iran
77’ How did India did not score! Dangmei’s header is saved off the line by the goalkeeper and the attacker places the rebound away from the target.
India 0-0 Iran
76’ Corner for India! Indumathi found Renu in the box with a sleek pass but the defender managed to get the ball away from the player.
India 0-0 Iran
70’ Subs for Iran! Zohrabinia and Farmani have come on for Sadeghy and Dabbaghi. Yellow card for Manisha for a sliding tackle on an opposition player.
India 0-0 Iran
67’ Yellow card! Dangmei Grace was on a free run toward’s Iran goal when Sadeghi made a tackle from the back.
India 0-0 Iran
66’ Another substitution for India. Renu comes in for forward Pyari Xaxa. Before leaving she did manage to find the target with a shot from left, forcing the keeper to make the save.
India 0-0 Iran
59’ Two changes made by Iran — Sarbali and Chahkandi go out for Nikkhah and Masoumi.
India 0-0 Iran
56’ Another chance goes begging. A corner for India and Xaxa does well to win it in the box but the header goes wide of the post.
India 0-0 Iran
55’ First substitution for India! Dangmei Grace is coming on for Sandhiya.
India 0-0 Iran
52’ Chance! Manisha plays a cross from the left. Xaxa had a lot of ground to cover, but she manages to make contact with a stretched leg. Unfortunately, the shot misses the target.
India 0-0 Iran
51’ Lots of loose passes and crosses from the Indian players. They are unable to take advantage of the ball possession.
India 0-0 Iran
48’ Indumathi manages to penetrate Iran’s penalty box but her cut back is weak and intercepted by the defender.
India 0-0 Iran
Second half begins! Iran had their moments in the first half and India would hope to have more clinical performance this time. The eye is on that winning goal.
HALFTIME!
India 0-0 Iran
After a nervy start, India took control of the first half but poor finishing means they are yet to score. Manisha Kalyan has been India’s best player as midfielders keep looking for her with their crosses. She has done excellently well to beat the defenders but the finishing has deserted her so far. India’s midfield is running the game and they would want to do the same in the second half.
India 0-0 Iran
40’ Some very good football from India in the midfield. The Iranians are finding it tough to get the ball back. A long cross was sent in from the right by Dalima but it was a bit too heavy for Mansiha who could only cut it back to the goalie.
India 0-0 Iran
35’ Xaxa miscues her shot from outside the box. Indu reacts by chasing the ball into the box but fails to keep her shot on the target.
India 0-0 Iran
32’ Iran’s goalkeeper drops a cross in the box and Manisha takes control of it but her shot is blocked by a defender.
India 0-0 Iran
30’ Free header for Manisha but she flicks it over the bar. Great chance goes begging. Asha’s freekick is deflected to Indu on the right flank who crossed it back into the box for Manisha but the forward could not find the target.
India 0-0 Iran
26’ Slight delay in the game as Manisha is on the ground receiving treatment for a collision she had with an Iranian attacker. Looks like a minor issue. Yes, it is. She is back on her feet. The game continues.
India 0-0 Iran
24’ Chance! The ball dropped in front of Indu in the box and she slashed it with her left foot, only for it to go over the post. Best chance so for the hosts.
India 0-0 Iran
19’ Sanju Yadav’s misplaced header against a long freekick allows the Iranian forward to get behind the defenders in the box. Thankfully she fails to put it past the keeper Aditi.
India 0-0 Iran
16’ Indu releases Manisha on the left flank with a through ball and the Indian attacker’s shot goes over the post. Good counterattack by hosts.
India 0-0 Iran
12’ Chance for Iran! A flicked header from a freekick hits the crossbar and India manage to clear the rebound. There was an appeal for a handball but the referee wasn’t interested.
India 0-0 Iran
10’ Anju Tamang gets a loose ball just outside the box after Iran block an attempt. Tamang goes for power and her effort goes high and wide.
India 0-0 Iran
8’: India are dominating the possession but still there’s a good tempo to the game as Iran are looking to hit back on the counter.
India 0-0 Iran
4’: Excellent through ball from the midfield releases Manisha Kalyan on a free run on the left flank. The attacker floats a cross into the box but a foul by an Indian player stops the proceedings.
India 0-0 Iran
3’: Early opportunity for India as Iran concede a corner. Anju Tamang’s delivery is cleared or another corner and this time Iran manage to take the ball back to the midfield.
KICKOFF!
The 1st half of India vs Iran match is underway at the DY Patil Stadium!
Bala Devi backs India to do well
India are without Bala Devi as the striker is still recovering from the ACL injury surgery, but she is confident her team will do well in the Asian Cup.
“I have been in touch with my colleagues. The mood in the camp is very high and the coach has done a wonderful job with the squad, picking the best players he can for such a major tournament. I am confident this team will do well,” she said.
Top Players to watch out for
We have picked the top 10 players to watch out for in the tournament, and the list includes the likes of Australia star Sam Kerr, Japanese legend Saki Kumagai and India’s upcoming sensation Manisha Kalyan.
Click here to check out the full listEye on World Cup
The Asian Cup offers five direct World Cup spots. India by reaching the quarters can ensure a chance of making Australia-New Zealand 2023. The losing quarter-finalists will be a part of the World Cup play-off tournament to be held in Feb-March 2023.
6867 days.
Those are the number of days that have elapsed since India last played a game at the women’s Asian Cup.
These 18 years have seen the team going through multiple ups and downs, well mostly downs. The Asian Cup at home will not right all those historical wrongs but it is a fantastic opportunity to bring the women’s game into the spotlight, even if for a week.
…with the Indian Women’s League coming up mid-season, a good showing by the women is likely to ignite interest in the women’s game. A poor display, however, may send women’s football back to the drawing board.
Team India must step up, not just for themselves, but also for the thousands of aspiring women’s footballers in the country. To show the aspirants that the game has a future, they need a solid present.
Click here to read Arka Bhattacharya’s India preview