After suffering consecutive defeats in Brazil, the India women’s football team will lock horns with Venezuela in their third and final match of the ongoing women's international football tournament at the Arena da Amazonia in Manaus in the wee hours of Thursday, December 2.
Thomas Dennerby’s Indian team displayed great fighting spirit in their second match of Torneio Internacional de Futebol Feminino against Chile before succumbing to a 0-3 defeat.
Ranked 57th in the FIFA rankings, the Ashalata Devi-led side made three changes to their starting XI from their previous match against Brazil. The Blue Tigresses brought in Linthoingambi Devi in place of regular goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan while Martina Thokchom and Manisha Panna replaced Kamala Devi and Dangmei Grace.
In their last match against Chile, India had a decent chance to open the scoring in the sixth minute as the goal-scorer against Brazil, Manisha Kalyan directed an inswinging corner straight to the goalkeeper.
Meanwhile, Chile took the lead courtesy their forward María José Urrutia who converted an easy chance with a first-time finish. India defended brilliantly for the rest of the first half as they kept the Chilean attack at bay.
In the second half, the Blue Tigresses fought valiantly before Chilean substitutes Isidora Hernandez and Karen Araya netted two goals in two minutes in the 84th and 85th minute respectively to make it 3-0.
India were earlier beaten 1-6 by hosts Brazil in their opening match of the four-nation tournament and will look to end the tour on a high as they face 56th ranked Venezuela at the same venue on Thursday.
India women vs Venezuela women head-to-head in international football
The Indian women’s football team has never faced Venezuela in international football. This will be the first meeting between India and Venezuela, ranked 57th and 56th respectively in the FIFA rankings.
Indian women’s football team squad vs Venezuela
Goalkeepers: Aditi Chauhan, M Linthoingambi Devi, Sowmiya Narayasamy
Defenders: Dalima Chhibber, Sweety Devi, Ritu Rani, Ashalata Devi, Manisa Panna, Shilky Devi, Ranjana Chanu, W Linthoingambi Devi
Midfielders: Indumathi Kathiresan, Sanju, Anju Tamang, Martina Thokchom, Karthika Angamuthu, Kamala Devi
Forwards: Manisha Kalyan, Pyari Xaxa, Renu, Dangmei Grace, Soumya Guguloth, Mariyammal Balamurugan
Where to watch India women vs Venezuela women 2021 live in India?
Live streaming of the India women’s football team vs Venezuela will be available on the Indian Football Team's Facebook page and their official YouTube channel. The match starts at 2:30 AM IST on Thursday, December 2.
There will be no live telecast of the India women vs Venezuela women match on any TV channel in India.
Featured photo: Twitter/Indian Football
