Indian U17 Women's Team Shows Promise Despite Draws in Uzbekistan Friendlies

U17 Women's Team's Performance in Uzbekistan

The Indian U17 women's football team recently concluded two friendly matches against Uzbekistan, both ending in a 0-0 stalemate. While the score might imply a lack of excitement, the Young Tigresses' trip to Tashkent was far from dull.

Although no goals were scored at the UFA National Football Centre, head coach Joakim Alexandersson noted that the results did not reflect India's overall dominance during the matches, as stated in a release from AIFF Media.

With the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers approaching from October 5 to 11 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, these friendly games provided valuable insights into the new U17 squad's development.

"The scoreline is a fair reflection of our performances," Alexandersson remarked. "We controlled both matches but struggled with our passing and combinations in the final third, which limited our scoring opportunities," according to the release.

Defensively, India excelled, effectively neutralizing Uzbekistan's attacks throughout the 180 minutes of play.

"Our defensive display was aligned with my expectations for the team," the Swedish coach explained. "We appeared well-coordinated and exhibited the aggression I have emphasized in training. It was encouraging to see most players maintain the intensity and style we aim for," as per the release.

However, Alexandersson's evaluation included some concerns. While the defense was solid, the matches highlighted areas needing improvement.

"We generated several good half-chances and a few clear opportunities in both games, enough to secure victories," he noted. "Defensively, we were robust, not conceding significant chances. Yet, we must refine our timing for runs into the box during crosses and improve our composure in front of goal when facing defensive pressure," according to the release.

Despite the missed scoring chances, the experience of playing in away conditions was crucial for the team's physical and mental readiness.

"It was beneficial for our attacking players to gain match experience and better understand their capabilities against international teams," the coach stated, as per the release.

Having previously guided the U17 team to a historic qualification for the 2026 Asian Cup, Alexandersson's goal for this cycle is to achieve consecutive qualifications for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup.

Beyond tactical evaluations, Alexandersson emphasized the growing camaraderie within the team. "The most significant takeaway is that the girls genuinely enjoy each other's company, and we had a positive few days together," he said. "From a football perspective, this group shows a strong desire to improve, and there is considerable talent. We need to enhance our tactical intelligence across the pitch, particularly in the final third. I believe we have a solid chance to deliver impressive performances soon," as per the release.

The Young Tigresses returned to India on Monday to continue their training camp in Porvorim, Goa. Before heading to Malaysia, they are scheduled to face the Philippines in two friendly matches on September 26 and 29.