Off-field chaos, on-field heartbreak: India women fall to Vietnam in Asia Cup opener

India's AFC Women's Asia Cup campaign began in heartbreak as they lost 2-1 to Vietnam in Perth, days after a jersey fiasco saw the AIFF send ill-fitting kits to the squad ahead of the tournament.

India's AFC Women's Asia Cup campaign got off to the worst possible start on Tuesday. They fell to a 2-1 defeat against Vietnam in Perth, with a late goal proving to be the difference between the two sides.

The result came just days after the squad was caught up in a jersey fiasco. The All India Football Federation had sent ill-fitting kits manufactured for age-group teams, forcing the players to source playing kits locally ahead of their tournament opener.

The Blue Tigresses arrived in Australia under a cloud of off-field uncertainty. It showed in the opening stages, with coach Amelia Valverde's side looking sluggish and disjointed throughout the first half.

Vietnam looked the more assured side in the opening period. They were comfortable in possession and dangerous on the counter. Van Su broke the deadlock with a stunning finish, curling the ball into the top right corner after a sharp run in behind the Indian defence.

Senior players, including Manisha Kalyan, Sweety Devi and Dangmei Grace, had written an official letter to the AIFF seeking urgent intervention over the kit situation in the days leading up to the match. Despite the disruption off the pitch, India began to grow into the game after the break.

Valverde made two changes that injected fresh energy into the side. Sanfida Nongrum and Rimpa Haldar came on and immediately made their presence felt. Nongrum pulled one back shortly after coming on, finishing smartly to give India a lifeline.