Shillong : The Indian Senior Women’s National Team were held to a 0-0 draw by Nepal in the ongoing 12th South Asian Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong .
Echoes of the draw against Maldives resurfaced as the Indian Women, despite dominating the match, failed to convert their chances, as an inspired performance by Nepal held them to a goalless stalemate.
In what was a cagey first half wherein both Team jostled for possession, India were unable to convert their goal scoring opportunities that came in plenty. In the first minute itself, Grace burst onto a vacant left flank and positioned herself for the shot. Grace’s rasping shot however got thwarted by the Nepali defence line.
Five minute later, Kamala Devi teed up an onrushing Grace in the 18 yard box, but the latter shot wide of the goal as another attacking opportunity went abegging.
With India committing bodies in attack for an early opening, Nepal played counter-attacking Football and in the 20th minute, Goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan made an easy save off a Nepali counter attack.
In the 33rd minute, Kamala’s delicious cross found Grace clear of the defensive mix in the 18 yard box. In an attempt to shoot, Grace however lost her footing and slipped as Nepal survived another Indian attack.
Six minutes later, Bembem Devi found Kamala Devi with a delightful through ball clear onto goal. However Kamala could not do justice to her opportunity as her weak shot was saved easily by the Nepali custodian.
The ‘Women in Blue’ tried to cut through the Nepali defence line in an attempt to garner dividends, however to no avail, as both Team went into the tunnel on level pegging as the score-line read 0-0.
Changing over and the Indian women almost took the lead in the 53rd minute when Bala Devi’s rocket-of-a-shot from outside of the box flew whiskers over the crossbar.
Albeit the Indian Women pinned Nepal in their own half and had the lion’s share of possession, finishing touches off splendid Indian attacks, were still amiss.
In the 55th minute, substitute Sanju released Bala Devi onto the right flank. In an attempt to cut inside from the flank, Bala ran into defensive traffic as the attack went abegging.
Shortly after, Kamala Devi was released onto goal following an accurate Bembem Devi through ball, however with the goal at her mercy, Kamala failed to test the Nepali custodian.
To disrupt Indian attacks, Nepal flooded bodies in defence and in the 71st minute, Nepal almost took the lead when a moment of complacency from the Indian defence line, led to a Nepali shot which rattled the post.
In the 79th minute, Sasmita Malik’s shot flew inches wide of the goal after Premi Devi released her onto goal. Five minute later, Bala Devi got the best chance of the match as she was clear of the defensive mix in the 18 yard box following a Sasmita cross. However Bala Devi failed to head the ball home from hand-shaking distance as the attacking move went without dividends.
The Indian Women tried to breach the Nepali defence, but failed, as the full-time score-line read 0-0. The Indian Women clash swords against Bangladesh next on February 13 in their final encounter of the Group Stages of the South Asian Games.
India starting XI against Nepal: Aditi Chauhan (GK); Umapati Devi, Ashalata Devi, Manisa Panna, Supriya Routray; Bembem Devi (C), Premi Devi, Dangmei Grace (38’ – Bala Devi), Sasmita Malik, Kamala Devi (85’ – Pyari Xaxa), Prameshwori Devi (52’ – Sanju)