![\"India-Captain-Tuli-Goon-with-Bahrain-Captain-Yasmeen-Fuad-Abdulla\"](\"https:\/\/indiansportsnews.co.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/India-Captain-Tuli-Goon-with-Bahrain-Captain-Yasmeen-Fuad-Abdulla.jpg\")
West Bank: Football is cruel at times. It refuses to give you a second chance, even if you deserve one. The Indian Women\u2019s Senior National Team despite giving a good account of themselves against Myanmar in their opening game of the AFC Women\u2019s Asian Cup (Qualifiers) have their backs to wall after a 0-2 reversal.<\/p>\n
Against Chinese Taipei, who pumped in six goals against hosts Palestine in the Group D curtain-raiser on Tuesday, the Women in Blue have their task cut out. A win will keep them in the hunt for a place in the Finals of the AFC Cup. A defeat will mean otherwise.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a do or die match for us,\u201d National Coach Anadi Barua maintains.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIn such Tournaments where you get three games and only one team qualifies, there is absolutely no breathing space. We have played well against Myanmar, especially in the second half. They got the goals early. We took time to settle and that was the key,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce we got a hold of the match, we looked so much better. I am not taking anything out of Myanmar\u2019s victory. They deserved it. They got the goals, we didn\u2019t. But we played well. On another day, the script could have been different,\u201d added the India Coach.<\/p>\n
As the game progressed on Tuesday, the passing improved, flank play sharpened and backline held firm. The second-half belonged to India as Myanmar did everything they could to protect the two-goal cushion.<\/p>\n
\u201cBala (Devi) is not fully fit and we will take a call on her on the match day morning. Tuli (Goon) is also nursing a rib injury. Otherwise, our defence held fort and midfield played well,\u201d assistant Coach Surmala Chanu informed.<\/p>\n
Taipei Coach Yen Shih Kai exuded confidence after their 6-0 victory against Palestine.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are confident of doing well against India. I am happy with the way the girls are playing. Lin\u2019s (Ya Han) hat-trick was a treat to watch. I hope she continues in the same vein in the next two matches.\u201d
He added: \u201cWe have been preparing for the Qualifiers for a long time. I am glad that we are reaping dividends, though it is a little early to say.
India and Myanmar won\u2019t come easy and we are leaving no stones unturned in our preparations.\u201d<\/p>\n
The kick-off on May 23 is at 10.30pm (IST).<\/p>\n
India\u2019s last three International matches:<\/strong><\/p>\n May 14, 2013: v Bahrain. India won 2-1.<\/p>\n May 16, 2013: v Bahrain. India won 2-0.<\/p>\n May 21, 2013: v Myanmar, India lost 0-2.<\/p>\n Chinese Taipei\u2019s last three International Matches:<\/p>\n November 22, 2012: v China. Taipei lost 0-2.<\/p>\n November 24, 2012: v Hong Kong. Taipei won 2-1.<\/p>\n May 21, 2013: v Palestine. Myanmar won 6-0.<\/p>\n By Debayan Mukherjee<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Against Chinese Taipei, who pumped in six goals against hosts Palestine in the Group D curtain-raiser on Tuesday, the Women in Blue have their task cut out. A win will keep them in the hunt for a place in the Finals of the AFC Cup. A defeat will mean otherwise.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a do or die match for us,\u201d National Coach Anadi Barua maintains.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15260,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15261","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-football-football"],"yoast_head":"\nWest Bank: Football is cruel at times. It refuses to give you a second chance, even if you deserve one. The Indian Women\u2019s Senior National Team despite giving a good account of themselves against Myanmar in their opening game of the AFC Women\u2019s Asian Cup (Qualifiers) have their backs to wall after a 0-2 reversal.<\/p>\n