Injury-hit India were held up by a series of saves from Nepal keeper Anjila Subba in the second half as the Blue Tigresses now turn their sights to preparing for the first round of the AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifiers .
The Indians had more of a say in the early exchanges than in the last game, giving Nepal no time or space on the ball. Manisha Kalyan, who started this game, was there from the start. She took her marker off-foot and kicked it with the outside of her boot, but the ball went straight into the hands of Nepali goalkeeper Anjila Subba.
Minutes later, Soumya Guguloth, the scorer of the opening goal in the previous game, sniffed the goal from a Manisha cross but sent it wide. Captain Indumathi Kathiresan had a brilliant 21st-minute chance after a clear corner kick was returned to her behind the defense in some space, but her opening shot was saved.
Karthika had arguably the best half-time opportunity in the 30th minute when she produced a sublime curling effort with the top corner post address, but a flying Anjila pulled off an equally brilliant save for the deny. Dalima Chhibber had a crack on Nepal’s goal minutes before the lemon break from 30 yards out but lacked the required power and was then picked up by the keeper.
It started off as a more even game in the second half, and Nepal striker Sabitra Bhandari chased after a long ball but had the ball stolen by Ritu Rani. India head coach Thomas Dennerby announced the changes after a brief lull, with Sandhiya Ranganathan, Kashmina and Karishma Shirvoikar replacing Dangmei Grace, Karthika Angamuthu and Soumya Guguloth.
Anju Tamang had a chance in the 78th minute, though they all had the elusive goal when she nodded a cross from Dalima towards the far post but it was cleared off the line.
With less than five minutes remaining on the clock, Indumathi measured a through ball to Sandhiya, who managed to reach just in time, but had the ball swept from her feet by Anjila’s rushing foot. Karishma grabbed the rebound and, with the keeper out of position, tried to slot it in, but Nepal’s day was again saved by a desperate defense on the line.
Karishma thought she had won it two minutes from time when she aimed a cross to the bottom corner, but an Anjila diver managed to put her fingertips on it and flip it around the upright.
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