The Odisha FC Women’s team faces a crucial match against Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC in the AFC Women’s Champions League on Wednesday. Their debut match saw a challenging 0-17 defeat against Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds, a result that the team is determined to learn from and improve upon.
Despite the heavy loss, there were positives to take away from the match. Skipper and goalkeeper Shreya Hooda stood out with several crucial saves, mitigating the scoreline from becoming even more lopsided. The team acknowledges the need to regain their attacking momentum and learn from their shortcomings.
Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC, the host team, enters the match with confidence following their 3-1 victory over Chinese Taipei’s Taichung Blue Whale.
Odisha FC’s head coach, Crispin Chettri, addressed the media at the pre-match press conference, stating, “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.” He highlighted the team’s commitment to learn and improve, emphasizing their focus on securing a victory against Ho Chi Minh City.
Defender Arifa Zaheer echoed the team’s sentiment, stating, “We are obviously unhappy with the result from the last match, but we fought hard and gave it our all. The most important thing is that we’ve learned from that game. Now, we are fully focused on this match and will do everything we can to secure the three points.”
The match will be a crucial opportunity for Odisha FC Women to demonstrate their resilience and showcase their progress on the international stage. It is scheduled for 5:30 pm IST on Wednesday, October 9, and will be live streamed on the FanCode platform.
