In a lopsided encounter, Odisha FC suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of reigning champions Urawa Red Diamonds in the AFC Women’s Champions League group stage. The Japanese powerhouse dominated the match from start to finish, ultimately emerging victorious with a staggering 17-0 scoreline.
The statistics told the tale of a one-sided affair, with Odisha managing a solitary shot in the 93rd minute, while Urawa unleashed a barrage of 55 shots, 29 of which were on target. The defending champions took the lead in the 5th minute and never looked back, racing to a 6-0 advantage by the 18th minute. They added two more goals before halftime, taking an 8-0 lead into the break.
The second half saw Urawa continue their onslaught, scoring one more goal than they did in the first half. The Japanese team boasted an impressive 10 different goal-scorers, including two hat-tricks from Yuzuho Shiokosi and Miki Ito, who went on to score four goals. An own goal from Maryam Juke Ibrahim added to Odisha’s woes.
The match highlighted the significant gap in quality between the two teams. While Odisha were not expected to pose a significant threat, Urawa’s dominance was still striking. The Japanese team’s simple yet effective passing game and constant movement around the Odisha penalty area proved too much for the Indian club to handle.
Odisha’s task was made more challenging by the absence of key players. Midfielder Grace Hauhnar was serving a five-match suspension, while Cameroonian defender Elaine Bodolo was awaiting international clearance. Striker Pyari Xaxa was also sidelined due to a minor bike accident.
The Indian club will now face Vietnamese side Ho Chi Minh City and Chinese Taipei’s Taichung Blue Whale in their remaining group stage matches. While the toughest test may be out of the way, the damage inflicted by Urawa could have a lasting impact on Odisha’s confidence heading into these encounters.
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