AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026: India lose 3

The Indian football team finished winless and pointless in its AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 campaign after going down 3-1 to Chinese Taipei in its third and final Group C match at the Western Sydney Stadium in Australia on Tuesday.

Manisha Kalyan (39’) scored the only goal for India in the match while Su Yu-hsuan (12’) and Chen Yu-chin (77’) registered for Chinese Taipei. An unfortunate own goal by Panthoi Chanu (OG 45+8’) inflated the scoreline.

The result saw India finish bottom of their group, which was topped by Japan. The Indian eves went down fighting 2-1 against Vietnam in their opener before suffering a 11-0 loss to Japan in the earlier matches.

The top two sides from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams from the AFC Women’s Asian Cup group stage, progress to the quarter-finals. The semi-finalists will qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 in Brazil.

India, 67th in the FIFA women’s rankings, began the must-win match with urgency against world No. 40 Chinese Taipei, pressing high up and looking to move the ball forward quickly through the flanks.

However, it was Chinese Taipei who struck first. Capitalising on a defensive lapse by Sanju, Chen Jin-wen set up Su Yu-hsuan for the opening goal of the match inside the opening 15 minutes.

Despite the early setback, the Indian women’s football team persisted with its attacking intent.

India came within inches of a spectacular equaliser through Manisha Kalyan. The winger cut inside and unleashed a fierce strike from distance that rattled the crossbar.

The pressure eventually paid off late in the half as Manisha Kalyan’s free-kick from range eluded everyone and bounced into the net.

Just as it seemed India would go into the half-time break, tragedy struck. Deep into added-time Pyari Xaxa’s handball inside the box saw the referee award a penalty kick.

Hsu Yi-yun’s spot kick hit the post but rebounded after hitting Indian goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu’s back and rolled over the finish line. There wasn’t much the Indian custodian, who had made some important saves right until that point, could’ve done about it.

After the restart, both sides continued trading chances in what was an open and entertaining half of football.

It was India who blinked first as Chinese Taipei who found a goal. Wu Kai-ching spotted a big gap between the Indian defensive line and played in a through ball for Chen Yu-chin to run onto. She calmly sidestepped an onrushing Chanu and slotted in.

The goal rubberstamped the final 3-1 scoreline.

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