After impressive performances in the preliminary round, Odisha were all set for the 2024/25 AFC Women’s Champions League group stage. First up was the Japanese side Urawa Red Diamond Ladies, the 2023 AFC Women’s Club champion. After an incredible run to qualify for the competition, the Indian side was excited and optimistic. Still, the Japanese side gave them a harsh reality check by thrashing them 17-0. Let’s look at some of the game’s most significant moments, from Shiokshi’s first hat-trick to Ito’s second-half hat-trick.
Odisha Women had to cope with the absence of a few key players even before the game began. Dangmei Grace received a five-match ban after receiving a red card in the previous game. In addition to Pyari Xaxa’s accident, Cameroon defender Elaine was experiencing problems with her International Transfer Certificate (ITC). Crispin Chhetri made three changes, including bringing on Kiran Pisada, Malati Munda, and Kajal Kantiwal.
The Urawa Reds were aggressive and at the top of their game from the outset. The Japanese team opened the score in just five minutes. Shreya Hooda expertly stopped a shot from Takatsuka, but Endo was there to capitalize on the rebound and put the ball into the net. Four minutes later, Fujisaki’s goal off Shimada’s pass gave Urawa a two-goal advantage. Odisha had a rare attacking opportunity, but Yeboah lost the ball because she had no help up front.
Thirteen minutes into the match, Takatsuka scored the third goal for the Reds after a brilliant through pass from Fujasiki. Even though Shreya Hooda rushed forward, her effort was insufficient to stop the goal from being scored. After a brilliant backheel pass from Shimada to Shiokoshi, who tapped the ball into the net, Urawa scored a fourth goal two minutes later. Two minutes afterward, Shimada, the player who had assisted on the previous goal, became the goal scorer, giving the Urawa Reds a fifth.
Every play by Urawa ended in the back of the net or on target, leaving Odisha’s defense completely lost and unable to respond to their attempts. Urawa Reds scored another goal to continue their merciless play eighteen minutes into the match. Endo played a great ball, which Shiokoshi finished to clinch her brace and Urawa’s sixth. After another goal, Urawa took a 7-0 lead 30 minutes into the match. This time, Kurishima assisted Shiokoshi in accomplishing her hat trick.
Crispin Chhetri was forced to make an early substitution, substituting Maryam Ibrahim for Neha Sillay, after seven goals were let up even before the first-half water break. While the Odisha players waited for the half-time whistle, Urawa added an eighth, with Shimada completing her brace with an assist from her attacking partner Shiokoshi. If it weren’t for Shreya Hooda, the score would have been far worse at halftime. Despite conceding eight goals in forty-five minutes, the keeper produced impressive saves.
The Urawa Reds replaced four players heading into the second half, including forward Shimada. Like the opening 45 minutes, Urawa Reds attacked right away. Their ninth goal of the game and first of the second half were scored in only eight minutes into the half. This time, substitute Ririka Tanno scored thanks to an assist from Miki Ito. Kurishima scored her first and the game’s tenth goal a minute later. With a deft cross from the left side, Shiokishi set Kurishima up for a first-time shot that found the back of the net.
To make the score 13-0 in the Reds’ favor and accomplish her hat trick, midfielder Miki Ito scored three goals in the span of six minutes. Ami Takeuchi assisted with the third goal of the hat trick, with Rirrika Tanno assisting with the previous two. Tanno and Ito combined once more about 65 minutes into the match. The latter took a shot towards the goal, but Maryam redirected it into her own net. Urawa added their sixteenth goal of the match two more minutes later. Tanno once again assisted with substituting for Tsunoda’s first goal.
Odisha’s greatest play of the game was when they went 15 minutes without conceding after allowing the 15th goal. Ami Takeuchi scored her first goal, and the game’s sixteenth, in the 83rd minute with a stunning effort from just inside the penalty area. Odisha’s first attempt on target came in stoppage time, while Urawa had 29. In the match’s final play, Ito scored once again, and the score was 17-0 as the referee blew the final whistle.
Odisha would always lose against a team like Urawa Reds, but losing 17-0 is devastating. Every attempt made by the Urawa Reds was risky and most of them resulted in the back of the net, thus Crispin Chhetri’s team was absolutely terrible and had no way to combat it. This year, the Urawa Reds have scored sixteen goals in a single game, compared to their 20 goals in three group stage games last year! Against the same opponents last year, Gokulam Kerala let up eight goals, demonstrating clearly that Odisha could have performed better. On October 9, they will play the Vietnamese team in Ho Chi Minh City!
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