Fatemeh shaban ghohrood

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium: It was a bitter evening for the Indian senior women’s football team as it slumped to a 0-2 defeat against Iran in the opening match of the Tri-Nation Women's International Friendlies at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Tuesday.

Two second-half goals from substitute Sara Didar sank the hosts and handed Iran a victory after the first half ended goalless.

For India, the match was a return to action after a historic AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification campaign earlier this year and the first challenge in their preparations for next March's Asian Cup in Australia. The Blue Tigresses looked off-colour and tentative. Iran, by contrast, were composed, physically superior on the ball, and dictated the rhythm of the game almost from the outset. Every time the visitors attacked, India’s defence wavered.