Shillong, Mar 4: Sanfida Nongrum (pictured) had an international debut that footballers can only dream of as she scored just seven minutes into her maiden appearance for the Indian senior national women’s football team in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Group C match in Perth today.
Unfortunately, however, Vietnam snatched a winner in second half stoppage time and took the contest 2-1. Van Su Ngan Thi (30′, 90’+4) scored for Vietnam on either side of Sanfida’s 52nd minute effort.
Sanfida thus became the first player from Meghalaya to feature for the Indian senior women’s team, an historic moment for the state.
On the bench for the first half, she was drafted in by coach Amelia Valverde at the start of the second 45 minutes with India 1-0 down.
Less than 10 minutes later (and after Vietnam had a second goal disallowed for handball through VAR), Sanfida ensured history would remember her for a long time to come. India were on the counterattack and though Vietnam got the ball away, a deflection landed the ball in front of Sanfida, who went for goal and placed the ball into the back of the net.
The midfielder from Meghalaya wasn’t even done, as she went close with a header over the bar in the 64th minute, and she played a huge role in defensive and offensive duties, working well with both the defence and forwards. She was shown a yellow card for a rough tackle in the 70th minute but that couldn’t take anything away from her magical first appearance for the national team.
Earlier, Vietnam controlled more of the possession in the opening exchanges, as India sat deep, looking to exploit openings in the opposition’s back line.
India goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu Elangbam made an early save off Van Su, before India had their first opportunity in the eighth minute. Dangmei Grace chested down a high ball that fell in Sangita Basfore’s path. The latter, with time and space, struck it on the half volley, but it was straight at Vietnam goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh.
In the 14th minute, a Sangita mispass afforded a golden opportunity to Vietnam, as Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy collected the ball and struck the crossbar from the edge of the area.
India will next play Japan on 7th March in Perth at 4:30PM India time. Japan had beaten Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) 2-0 today.
(All India Football Federation photo)
