AFC Women's Champions League: Odisha FC eye redemption against Ho Chi Minh City FC

The Juggernauts were torn apart in their opening fixture against the defending champions.

After suffering a heavy 17-0 defeat to Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies at the Thong Nhat Stadium on Sunday, Odisha FC Women’s team will be eager to regroup and put forth a stronger showing in their next match against the host Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC on October 9, 2024, set to kick-off at 5:30 IST.

The match against Urawa Red Diamonds, the reigning AFC Women’s Club Championship winners and two-time champions of Japan’s WE League, was a tough learning experience for the Odisha side. The Japanese team showed their quality from the first whistle, but despite the scoreline, Odisha FC showed some resilience.

Goalkeeper-skipper Shreya Hooda made several vital saves to keep the game from getting even further out of hand. Jennifer had a promising solo run early on, breaking through the middle, but was ultimately stopped by a resolute Urawa defense. Kiran Pisda and Lynda Kom also put in a noteworthy performance, standing out in a difficult outing.

Now, Odisha FC will turn their attention to their second Group C fixture against the local team, Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC, who come into the game riding high after a strong second-half display saw them defeat Chinese Taipei’s Taichung Blue Whale 3-1 on October 6. After a slow start to the match, HCM City found their rhythm in the second half, turning up the pressure and securing an important win on home soil.

Pre-match press conference

Odisha FC held their pre-match press conference on Tuesday with head coach Crispin Chettri and player Arifa Zaheer ahead of their crucial AFC Women’s Champions League clash against the Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC.

The head coach said, “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.

“There were things in the last game that didn’t go our way, like our lack of attacking intent, but we’ve learned from that experience. We’re coming into this match with a fresh mindset and ready to take on the local team, Ho Chi Minh City, with renewed determination.”

Odisha FC’s Indian defender Arifa Zaheer, also added, “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.”

Match Details

• Odisha FC vs Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC | 9th October 2024 | 5:30 pm IST | Thong Nhat Stadium, Vietnam

Telecast

Odisha FC Women’s match will also be live-streamed on the FanCode App.

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