Olympic Qualifiers: Indian eves held by Myanmar, bow out on goal difference

Mandalay: On a stage where the Indian senior women’s team had to secure nothing less than a win, the Maymol Rocky-coached side were held in a 3-3 cliffhanger with the host Myanmar at the Mandalar Thiri Stadium here on Tuesday.

India despite finishing on level points with Myanmar (seven points from three matches) in Group A, bowed out of the Olympic Qualifiers due to an inferior goal difference of +4, in comparison to Myanmar’s +8.

Sandhiya had given India an early lead in the 10th minute but a hat-trick from Win Tun for Myanmar (17’, 21’, 72’) held India, as Sanju’s 32nd minute strike and Ratanbala Devi’s 64th minute goal could not help gather three points.

India, ranked 62, displayed their intentions to grab the match by the scruff against Myanmar, ranked 42 in the FIFA ladder.

Sanju coming close to giving India the lead as early as the second minute when her shot from close range, off a Dangmei Grace cross, went out for a corner.

India had to wait eight minutes more before surging into the lead. In the 10th minute, Ratanbala burst out on the right flank and released a low cross for Sandhiya Ranganathan, who made no mistake to finish from inside the box giving India the lead.

The upper hand, however, was short-lived as Myanmar scored two goals in five minutes. First, in the 17th minute, Win Tun’s header from inside the box equalized the deficit for the opponents.

Four minutes later, Myanmar took the lead from the spot. Goalkeeper Linthoi Devi dived to her right to save the penalty, but Win Tun lurching around scored off the rebound to make it 2-1 for the host.

India fought for every inch on the pitch. They stayed willing to put their bodies on the line, and committed to every play. The hard work down the flanks and in the midfield bore fruit in the 32nd minute.

Myanmar goalkeeper May Nwe fluffed her lines and made a howler of a clearance that fell to Ratanbala Devi, who chested it down for Sanju. Making a little mistake, Sanju buried her chance in the back of the net to level proceedings as both teams headed to the interval tied at 2-2.

In the second half, Myanmar dominated the opening minutes, and the Indian defence had to shut the opponents with some astute defending. Sweety Devi’s perfectly timed tackle on Win Tun showcased the maturity displayed by the young team with an average age of just 21.

In the 64th minute, Ratanbala Devi turned the tide for India. The midfielder cut into the box from the right flank and unfurled a curling shot which crashed into the back of the Myanmar net leaving the opponent custodian dumbfounded, giving India the lead as the scoreline read 3-2.

Eight minutes later, Win Tun completed her hat-trick, finishing from close range to equalize Myanmar’s deficit.

India could have sealed the fate in the 76th minute when Sanju ran clear of the defensive mix, but the Myanmar custodian made a world-class reflex save from close range to tip her shot over the bar. A minute later, Dangmei Grace burst through but this time the custodian put her body on the line to shield the ball.