AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup: India fall 0-3 to Japan - Highlights

India went down 0-3 to Japan in their second Group B match of the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 in Suzhou on Tuesday, as the Young Tigresses struggled to contain a dominant second-half performance from one of the tournament favourites.

India began the match with discipline and structure, staying compact at the back despite Japan controlling possession for most of the first half. The Young Tigresses defended resolutely, limiting clear-cut chances and going into the break level at 0-0, a positive sign against a side that had scored 13 goals in their opening match.

However, the pressure eventually told after the restart. Yumi Hayashi broke the deadlock in the 59th minute with a well-taken finish, giving Japan the breakthrough they had been pushing for. Once ahead, Japan grew in confidence and began to find more spaces in the Indian defence.

Yuzuha Ikeda then extended the lead with two goals in quick succession in the 76th and 81st minutes, effectively putting the game beyond India’s reach. The late goals reflected Japan’s sustained attacking intensity and clinical finishing in the final third.

Despite the result, India showed resilience, particularly in the first half, and will look to take those positives forward.

With the group stage nearing its conclusion, the Young Tigresses will now aim to regroup and deliver a stronger performance in their next outing.

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