India’s campaign in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup came to an end after a 3-1 defeat against Chinese Taipei in Sydney on Tuesday. Despite the loss, Indian forward Manisha Kalyan delivered one of the most memorable moments of the match with a spectacular long-range goal.
The match saw India start positively, creating early chances and pressing forward in search of goals. However, Chinese Taipei managed to take the lead in the 12th minute when Su Yu-Hsuan finished from close range following a defensive mistake that allowed the opposition to capitalize.
India responded strongly and found the equaliser before halftime through a remarkable strike from Manisha Kalyan. The 24-year-old unleashed a powerful left-footed shot from around 25 yards after a free kick was awarded for a foul on Soumya Guguloth. The ball struck the crossbar and bounced over the goal line before coming back into play. After a quick Video Assistant Referee review, the goal was confirmed, bringing India level at 1-1 in the 39th minute.
Kalyan was one of India’s standout performers throughout the match. Playing in a more central role under head coach Amelia Valverde, she displayed excellent ball control under pressure and won several fouls against defenders. She also posed a constant threat during set pieces and created opportunities for teammates.
Despite India’s attacking efforts, Chinese Taipei regained control of the game in the second half. A well-timed through ball exposed India’s defensive line and allowed Chen Yu-Chin to score in the 77th minute. Earlier in the match, a penalty awarded to Chinese Taipei had already put them ahead, making it difficult for India to recover.
India also suffered a setback late in the match when goalkeeper Panthoi Elangbam and defender Sweety Devi collided while trying to stop an attacking move. Both players were substituted and later taken to hospital for medical evaluation.
The defeat ended India’s hopes of progressing to the quarter-final stage of the tournament. Along with India, teams including Iran and Bangladesh were also eliminated from the competition. Meanwhile, Japan secured a dominant 4-0 win over Vietnam on the same day.
Although the result was disappointing for India, Manisha Kalyan’s outstanding strike remains one of the most impressive moments of the tournament and highlights the growing potential of the Indian women’s football team on the international stage.
