India go down to Iran in AFC women's championship

Dhaka: The Under-16 Indian women's football team, ahead by a solitary goal for the majority of the match, conceded two late second half strikes to go down to Iran 1-2 in their first group match of the 2015 Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) Women's Championship qualifiers at the Bangabandhu Stadium here Friday.

Iranian substitute Fatemeh Hosseni scored two late goals - on 71 and 87 minutes - to overturn India's lead in a Group B match, obtained by midfielder Premi Chiru on 13 minutes.

The win sees Iran consolidate their place at the top of the group with six points from two matches. They thumped United Arab Emirtes 9-0 in their first group outing Oct 15.

India next face hosts Bangladesh Oct 19 while Iran play against Jordan Oct 21.

"The girls played well. But Iran were too good in the second half. I believe we can come back as this is just our first game. We need to keep focus for 90 minutes in the next game," Maymol Rocky, India head coach, said after the match.

Iran coach said Shadi Mahini said she made her team aware of India's weakness and credit must go to the players for exploiting that weakness.

"I spoke to my girls at halftime and told them India's weakness. "We were tired in the first half but I am glad girls kept that aside and played so well in the second," she said.