Russia beat India 4-0 in Kolkata in first women's friendly

Russia beat India 4-0 at the Kishore Bharati Stadium in Kolkata on Thursday in the first of two FIFA international women’s friendlies, with the visitors producing a dominant display of technical and physical superiority.

The young Blue Tigresses, ranked 69th, set up in a deeply defensive formation to withstand sustained pressure from the 27th-ranked Russians, while goalkeeper Monalisha Devi Moirangthem produced a number of impressive saves in the opening period. India’s resistance lasted until the 41st minute when Iana Sheina scored to give Russia a 1-0 lead at half-time.

Russia stepped up their intensity after the interval and reaped rewards from substitutes and conditions on the wet pitch; Kira, brought on from the bench, scored in the 60th and 70th minutes. Iana Svistunova added a fourth with a strike in the 81st minute to complete the scoring.

India managed few clear-cut attacking opportunities throughout the match, and a combination of the goalpost and last-ditch defending prevented the scoreline from becoming larger. The wet surface also played a part in the match dynamics and in the timing of Russia’s second-half goals.

The fixture was played against the backdrop of an off-field dispute between the All India Football Federation and East Bengal FC over player releases; nine East Bengal players were omitted from coach Crispin Chettri’s final squad, removing several experienced senior players. Chettri named an experimental group and handed international debuts to Babysana Devi Thingbaijam, Malati Munda, Cindy Colney, Shubhangi Singh, Dhurga Perumal and Sibani Devi Nongmeikapam.

The result: India 0 lost to Russia 4 (Sheina 41, Kira 60, 70, Svistunova 81).

This match was the first of two FIFA international women’s friendlies between the sides; the teams are scheduled to meet again in the second friendly.