India lose 1-0 to Uzbekistan in second FIFA women’s football friendly 2025

The Indian women’s football team lost 1-0 to Uzbekistan at Bengaluru’s Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence in the second of two FIFA international friendlies on Tuesday.

Despite a spirited performance, the Blue Tigresses were undone by a moment of brilliance by Nilufar Kudratova early in the second half.

India began the match on the front foot, pressing higher up the pitch and trying to take the game to the visitors. The defence led by Thokchom Martina helped contain Uzbekistan’s attack.

When the backline was breached, goalkeeper Payal Basude stood tall, making a string of crucial saves in the first half, most notably after Nozimakhon Ergasheva rattled the crossbar with a thunderous strike in the 11th minute.

In midfield, India looked more cohesive than in the first game, with players utilising the width of the pitch to stretch the Uzbek defence. Sangita Basfore helped build attacks from deep, while fullback Ranjana Chanu injected pace and creativity.

The best chance for India came in the 21st minute. Ranjana whipped in a dangerous cross from the right, which Pyari Xaxa met with a strong header at the far post.

The Uzbekistan keeper managed a reflex save and though the rebound fell kindly to Sangita, she failed to direct her shot on target.

That missed opportunity would come back to haunt India. Just four minutes into the second half, Uzbekistan struck. Kudratova picked up the ball on the edge of the box, skipped past two defenders and unleashed a fierce left-footed strike that flew past Payal Basude into the top corner.

The setback momentarily unsettled the Blue Tigresses, but they regrouped and pushed forward again. Soumya Guguloth and Pyari Xaxa continued to test the Uzbekistan defence, while substitutes brought fresh energy.

However, despite several promising moves, the final pass or shot often lacked the sharpness needed to level the score.

In the end, India fell short and suffered another 1-0 loss against Uzbekistan, having also lost the earlier football friendly against them by a similar margin on Tuesday.

Click here to read article