India vs Chinese Taipei as it happened; Match called off after Covid outbreak: AFC Asian Cup 2022

AFC Women's Asian Cup 2022 LIVE: Follow the live score, updates and commentary of the match between India and Chinese Taipei at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

India was held to a goalless draw by Iran in its opening Asian Cup match.

Welcome to Sportstar's LIVE blog of AFC Women's Asian Cup 2022 match between India and Chinese Taipei at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.

REPORT|

7.33 pm: From AFC: "Following several positive cases of COVID-19, India failed to name the required minimum of 13 players for the Group A match against Chinese Taipei. In accordance with Article 4.1 of the ‘Special Rules Applicable to AFC Competitions during the COVID-19 pandemic’ (Special Rules), India was therefore unable to participate in the match and the full provisions of Article 4.1 will apply."

7.32pm: Official: Match called off!

7.09pm: " The Chinese Taipei players are done with warm up, heading nack to the changing rooms. No sign of the Indian team," says Shayan.

6.44 pm: "I see some more Chinese Taipei players coming out from the dugout. No signs of the Indian team yet," says Shayan. No official team-sheets yet with less than 45 minutes until kick-off.

From Shayan Acharya at the venue: Few Chinese Taipei players out for warm-up, but no sign of Team India.

 

6.26pm: Update from our reporter Shayan Acharya from the venue: "Anxious moments for India fans as there seems to be a covid outbreak in the indian camp. Will the team be able to field a team? One has to wait a big longer."

6.10pm: News coming in from Navi Mumbai: There is a covid outbreak apparently. But there is no official word yet.

6 pm: India head coach Thomas Dennerby expressed his disappointment after his team was held to a goalless draw by Iran in the opening fixture . Read his comments after the game here .

5.46 pm: Tournament favourites China has thrashed Iran 7-0 to take a step closer to the quarterfinals of the competition.

MATCH PREVIEW

Leading up to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022, India head coach Thomas Dennerby claimed that India had a ‘realistic target’ of making it to the quarterfinals. However, its hopes of reaching the last-eight stage suffered a blow in the opening fixture as the home team was held to a goalless draw by Iran.

While the Indian coach expressed his disappointment with the team’s inability to score a goal, he was optimistic of a turnaround. On Sunday, as India takes on Chinese Taipei in a must-win match at the DY Patil Stadium, the team hopes to be more aggressive in its approach and be clinical with its finishing.

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Chinese Taipei suffered a 0-4 thrashing against eight-time champion China in its first game, and to add to its woes, the Indian team plans to ‘tweak’ its attack a little to make sure there are no slip-ups.

“We have to work on our finishing in the second match against Chinese Taipei. I think we have a solid defence and defended well against Iran. A few tweaks to our attack, and we will be ready for our next opponents,” Dennerby said.

With star striker Bala Devi out of the side due to an injury, India is heavily reliant on forwards Manisha Kalyan and Pyari Xaxa. Despite putting in the hard yards against Iran, Manisha and Pyari failed to score a goal, and they will be hoping to make every opportunity count in the crucial fixture.

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A lot will also depend on how Indumathi Kathiresan and Anju Tamang marshall the midfield. Seasoned midfielder Kamala Devi did not get a chance in the last outing, and it remains to be seen whether she features in the playing eleven against Chinese Taipei.

While India is ranked 55th, Chinese Taipei is placed 39, and even enjoys a better head-to-head record - winning seven out of nine matches played between the two nations.

However, the last time the two teams met in a friendly in Bahrain in October last year, India emerged victorious with a 1-0 win, and that should inspire the home team ahead of the key clash.

The India vs Chinese Taipei match at the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2022 will be telecast live on Discovery Network's Eurosport India and can be streamed live on Jio TV   at 7.30 PM.