Bhubaneswar: After suffering a defeat to Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies at Thong Nhat Stadium on Sunday, Odisha FC Women’s team will be eager to regroup and put forth a stronger showing in their next match against host Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC on Wednesday.
The match against Urawa Red Diamonds, the reigning AFC Women’s Club Championship winners and two-time champions of Japan’s WE League, was a tough learning experience for the Odisha side.
The Japanese team showed their quality from the first whistle, but despite the scoreline, Odisha FC showed some resilience. Goalkeeper-skipper Shreya Hooda made several vital saves to keep the game from getting even further out of hand.
Jennifer had a promising solo run early on, breaking through the middle, but was ultimately stopped by a resolute Urawa defense. Kiran Pisda and Lynda Kom also put in a noteworthy performance, standing out in a difficult outing.
Now, Odisha FC will turn their attention to their second Group C fixture against the local team, Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC, who come into the game riding high after a strong second-half display saw them defeat Chinese Taipei’s Taichung Blue Whale 3-1 on October 6. After a slow start to the match, HCM City found their rhythm in the second half, turning up the pressure and securing an important win on home soil.
Pre-Match Press Conference
Odisha FC held their pre-match press conference on Tuesday with head coach Crispin Chettri and player Arifa Zaheer ahead of their crucial AFC Women’s Champions League clash against the Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC.
Head Coach Crispin Chettri said, “I know the last match was tough, not just for the players but also for the coaching staff, the entire team, and our country. I take full responsibility for the result. But I believe we are growing as a football nation. There were things in the last game that didn’t go our way, like our lack of attacking intent, but we’ve learned from that experience. We’re coming into this match with a fresh mindset and ready to take on the local team, Ho Chi Minh City, with renewed determination.”