Indian women`s football team out of Olympic qualifiers

Dhaka: Indian women`s football team failed to advance to the second round of 2012 Olympics qualifiers after suffering a 1-5 thrashing at the hands of Uzbekistan in a play-off match on Wednesday.

India and Uzbekistan had played out a 1-1 draw in their last league match on Tuesday to finish on same four points -- from a win and a draw each -- and same goal average, which led to today`s play-off to decide the Group B winner. Bangladesh had lost both their matches against India and Uzbekistan by identical margins of 0-3. In the play-off match at Bangabandhu National Stadium today, it was India who drew first blood with Bembem Devi scoring in the 41st minute as they went into the breather 1-0.Midfielder Bembem curled in a left-foot free kick into the top of the Uzbekistan net from 20 yards. Uzbekistan, however, came back strongly in the second half to fire in five goals. Elena Lagutkina scored a brace -- in the 56th and 60th minutes -- to lead Uzbekistan`s fight back and later rout of the Indians. Indian goalkeeper Sita Sharma`s fumble then dealt a body blow to her side as Uzbekistan dictated terms on their opponents. Sharma let a feeble shot off Ludmila Karachik slip between her hands in the 72nd minute and the goal destroyed India`s morale.Feroza Turdiboeva and Makhliyo Sarikova then scored a goal each in the 75th and 77th minutes to complete the tally for Uzbekistan as India ended the tournament on a disappointing note. PTI