The India women's national football team began their AFC Women Asian Cup Australia 2026 campaign with a narrow 1 2 defeat against the Vietnam women's national football team at Perth Rectangular Stadium on March 4, 2026. An injury time goal proved decisive in a closely contested Group C encounter.
Vietnam took the lead in the 30th minute through Nguyen Thi Van Su, who capitalised on sustained pressure during the first half. The Vietnamese side controlled possession in the early stages, forcing India to defend deep and look for opportunities on the counterattack.
After the interval, India responded with greater attacking intent. Debutant Sanfida Nongrum, who came off the bench in the second half, scored the equaliser in the 52nd minute. Her goal provided momentum and boosted India’s confidence as they began pushing Vietnam into their own half.
India created additional chances as the match progressed. A cross from Rimpa was met by Pyari Xaxa with a header just past the hour mark, but the attempt was saved. Shortly after, Sanfida attempted another header from a cross delivered by Nirmala Devi, though the effort went over the crossbar.
The contest appeared to be heading towards a draw as both teams sought a breakthrough. However, in stoppage time, Nguyen Thi Van Su struck again to secure her second goal of the match, giving Vietnam a 2 1 lead. The late goal left India with little time to respond.
The result places Vietnam in a favourable position in Group C, while India will need to regroup ahead of their upcoming fixtures in the tournament. Despite the loss, India’s second half performance demonstrated resilience and the ability to create scoring opportunities against a strong opponent.
Coaches and analysts often emphasise the importance of maintaining concentration in the closing stages of international matches. The late concession highlighted the need for defensive organisation under pressure.
For India, positives can be drawn from the attacking combinations that developed in the second half and the impact of substitutes. Sanfida Nongrum’s goal on debut provided a significant moment in the match and could serve as a confidence boost moving forward.
The AFC Women Asian Cup Australia 2026 features top teams from across the continent, with each group stage match carrying considerable importance for qualification to the knockout rounds. India will aim to convert promising passages of play into points in their remaining fixtures.
Further updates on standings and upcoming matches are expected as the tournament progresses.
