Suzhou, May 12: India’s hopes for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2026 were dashed as they faced a 0-3 defeat against China in the quarterfinals of the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup 2026. This loss, which occurred on Monday, marked the end of India’s remarkable journey in the tournament.
The match took place at the Suzhou Sports Center Stadium, where the home crowd energized the Chinese team. They started aggressively, attempting to dominate the game with quick passing and movement in the final third. However, India held strong in the early stages, with Abhista Basnet making a crucial block to deny Li Yaqi a close-range goal in the fourth minute.
In the 15th minute, China had a fantastic opportunity to score. Liu Yuxi delivered an accurate pass to Wang Chenxi, breaking through the Indian defense. Wang cut inside from the left and launched a powerful shot that struck the crossbar.
China’s pressure finally paid off in the 38th minute with a well-executed team move. Liu Yuxi patiently built the play through midfield, receiving the ball inside the box before intelligently passing it back to Huang Kinyi. Huang calmly slotted the ball into the net from close range, giving the host team the lead.
This goal shifted the momentum entirely in favor of China. As the first half progressed, India found themselves pushed back into their own half. Just when the Young Tigresses hoped to regroup at halftime, China struck again in stoppage time. Ritu Baraiik brought down Liu in the penalty area, prompting the referee to point to the spot. Liu confidently stepped up and converted the penalty with a low shot, extending China’s lead to 2-0.
Trailing by two goals, the Indian team displayed more aggression after the break, but China’s solid defensive strategy thwarted their attempts. The Young Tigresses struggled to penetrate the opposing defense.
In the final minutes of the match, the host team sealed their victory. Wu Yichen delivered a cross from the left. Following a loose clearance inside the box, Cheng Wandi’s shot deflected to Li Kixian, who reacted quickly to score, concluding the match at 3-0 in favor of China.
This campaign marked India’s best performance in the tournament, as the Young Tigresses reached the knockout stage for the first time.
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