India show grit but Russia’s class shines through in 4-0 defeat

Kolkata: Crispin Chettri’s girls showed a lot of character in the first half of their international friendly on Thursday. But the difference in quality became obvious in the second half as Russia showed their class with a 4-0 win here on a rainy evening.The result underlined the gap in quality between the world No. 27 side and the 69th-ranked hosts. Unlike in last year’s 2-0 defeat to Russia in the Pink Ladies Cup, India were without key players such as Manisha Kalyan and Soumya Guguloth this time around and fielded a significantly changed side.Chettri handed senior India debuts to Malati Munda and Babysana Devi Thingbaijam and had a playing XI that was vastly different from the one that played the final of SAFF Women’s Championship in June.And the young Indians on the pitch showed a lot of grit and energy in the opening 10 minutes. As the Russians, who arrived in India just two days earlier and had only one training session before the game, took time to find their rhythm, the hosts looked to exploit the opportunity with attacks down the flanks and through the middle, led by captain Sangita Basfore and Sanfida Nongrum.Their best chance to find a breakthrough came in the 24th minute after the visitors began growing into the game and Iana Sheina had been stopped inside the box by a Monalisha Devi save.India’s run on the counter saw Jasoda Munda send in a volley inside the box that beat the Russian defender and reached Malavika’s feet. However, Russian goalkeeper Natalia Silina closed her down quickly to deny the young striker.From then on, Russia began taking control of the match and were denied a breakthrough only by brave goalkeeping from Monalisha and resolute defending by Ranjana Chanu.But it looked to be only a matter of time before Russia broke the deadlock, and they did so in the 41st minute when a clearance inside the box by Ranjana fell kindly to Sheina, who angled her shot into the bottom-right corner.Chettri brought on four more debutants, including 19-year-old Sibani Devi Nongmeikapam, after the break, but the complexion of the match had already changed completely in favour of the higher-ranked visitors.After they were denied a goal by a late offside call in the 59th minute, coach Yuri Krasnozhan’s substitutes took the match away from India soon after, with Kira Petukhova producing two brilliant finishes in the 60th and 65th minutes and Iana Svitstunova adding Russia’s fourth goal in the 81st minute.Even the fresh legs introduced by Chettri could not stop the opponents, who are 42 places above India in the FIFA rankings, from asserting their superiority on the field.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.