The Indian women’s football team faced a daunting challenge on Saturday, suffering a heavy 11-0 defeat at the hands of world No. 8 Japan in their second Group C match of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026. Playing at the Perth Rectangular Stadium in Australia, the Blue Tigresses struggled to contain the two-time continental champions, who asserted their dominance from the opening whistle. The result highlighted the significant gap between the 67th-ranked Indians and the best-ranked side in Asia.
Japan bulldoze India 11-0 in AFC Women's Asian Cup
Japan's relentless offensive display saw a flurry of goals from across their lineup. Hinata Miyazawa and second-half substitute Riko Ueki both netted impressive hat-tricks, while Kiko Seike added a brace. The scoring was rounded out by Yuzuki Yamamoto, Yui Hasegawa, and Maya Hijikata. From the start, India found it nearly impossible to transition out of their own defensive third, as the Japanese side utilized their superior technical skill and tactical precision to stage a constant siege on the Indian goal.
The breakthrough came just four minutes into the match through a moment of individual brilliance from Yuzuki Yamamoto. Cutting in from the right wing and navigating past multiple defenders, the winger unleashed a curling left-footed strike into the top corner to record her maiden senior international goal. Yamamoto continued to be a catalyst for the Japanese attack, providing the assist for Yui Hasegawa's tap-in shortly after.
By the 20th minute, Japan had already established a 3-0 lead after Hasegawa turned provider for Hinata Miyazawa. Miyazawa struck again just 15 minutes later, finishing a crisp passing move to effectively put the contest out of reach before half-time. Despite some credible saves from Indian goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu, a late penalty converted by Kiko Seike sent the teams into the break with Japan leading 5-0 and holding an overwhelming 78 per cent of the possession.
Hinata Miyazawa, Riko Ueki's hat-trick in Japan's triumph
The second half brought no relief for India, as Riko Ueki made an immediate impact off the bench, scoring twice within five minutes of the restart. The Nadeshiko continued to play at a high tempo, with Hijikata and Seike adding further goals before Ueki and Miyazawa both completed their hat-tricks late in the game. Following this result, India remains at the bottom of Group C and will likely need a convincing win against Chinese Taipei on Tuesday to keep any hopes of advancement alive.
By the time the half-time whistle blew, Japan had established a commanding 5-0 lead, capped off by Kiko Seike converting a penalty in stoppage time. Despite the scoreline, Indian goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu was a standout performer, making several critical saves to prevent an even larger deficit. Japan's total control was reflected in their overwhelming 78% possession, leaving India struggling to find any offensive rhythm.
The second half offered no respite for India, as Japan maintained their high-intensity press. Substitute Riko Ueki made an immediate impact, netting two goals within just five minutes of the restart. India’s defensive woes deepened as the match progressed, with Maya Hijikata adding her name to the scoresheet and Ueki completing a remarkable hat-trick only 15 minutes after entering the pitch.
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The match concluded with a lopsided 11-0 scoreline after Ueki provided the assist for Hinata Miyazawa’s third goal. Statistically, the gap was stark; India failed to register a single shot on target throughout the entire 90 minutes. This defeat leaves India at the bottom of Group C with zero points and a significantly damaged goal difference, while Japan sits comfortably at the top with six points.
India's quarters hopes still alive
Looking ahead, India must now regroup for their final group-stage match against world No. 40 Chinese Taipei on March 10. To keep their knockout dreams alive, they likely need a convincing victory to stand a chance as one of the best third-placed teams. The stakes remain incredibly high, as the tournament serves as the primary qualifier for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027, with semi-finalists earning a direct ticket to Brazil.