India 1-2 Nepal Highlights, Tri-Nation Women’s International Friendlies 2025: Bhandari's Brace Sinks Blue Tigresses

Welcome, football fans! This is the start of our live blog for the women’s international friendly match between India and Nepal in Shillong. Stay tuned for pre-match updates and lineups as they are released.

• Fixture: India vs Nepal, Tri-Nation Women's International Friendlies 2025 Match 3

• Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong, Meghalaya

• Date: Monday, October 27, 2025

• Time: 6:00 PM IST

• Live Streaming: FIFA+

• Matches played: 18

• India wins: 11

• Nepal wins: 2

• Draws: 5

Panthoi Chanu Elangbam (gk), Nirmala Devi Phanjoubam, Shilky Devi Hemam, Sangita Basfore (c), Ratanbala Devi, Dangmei Grace, Ranjana Chanu Sorokhaibam, Thokchom Martina, Rimpa Haldar, Lynda Kom

Bench: Adrija Sarkhel (gk), Santosh, Malati Munda, Karishma Shirvoikar, Pyari Xaxa, Babina Devi Lisham, Kiran Panda, Linda Chanu Heirangkhongjam

Anjana Rana Magar (gk), Pujaa Rana, Bimala BK, Samiksha Ghimre, Man Maya Damai, Renuka Nagarkote, Sabitra Bhandari (c), Rekha Poudel, Preeti Rai, Sabita Rana Magar, Dipa Shahi

Bench: Usha Nath (gk), Anjila Tumbapo Subba (gk), Hira Kumari Bhujel, Saru Limbu, Rashmi Kumari Ghishing, ANita Basnet, Sajani Thokar, Meena Deuba, Pratiksha Chaudhary, Purnima Rai, Nisha Thokar, Saraswati Hamal

India: 🟢W 🟢W 🟢W 🟢W 🔴L

Nepal: 🔴L 🟢W 🟢W ⚫D 🔴L

The pre-match formalities are done, and both players have taken their formations on the pitch. Thai referee Pansa Chaisanit blows her whistle, and the Blue Tigresses get tonight's international friendly underway. Who will come out on top tonight? Stay tuned!

What was that?! The whistle had barely been blown, and Nepal take a shocking early lead. A long ball from the back, and it falls to Sabitra Bhandari. The forward shows exquisite first touch to finish it past the onrushing Panthoi Chanu. Nepal take the lead!

At the moment, India are struggling to push out of their own half, with Nepal winning the midfield battle. A throw in leads to Ratanbala Devi finding herself with the ball on the edge of the box, but her shot is miles wide of the left post.

Nepal have been the better side so far, by some distance. A deft touch by Bhandari almost plays Rekha through on the left flank, but Martina puts in a crucial intervention to clear the danger.

For the first time this evening, India had something to cheer for. Lynda Kom found Ratanbala Devi, and her left-footed effort was somehow tipped behind by Anjana Rana Magar. The resulting corner sees Dangmei Grace having a wild effort, but it's blocked. Much, much better from India.

Although Nepal haven't created much since the opening goal, they push ahead in numbers again. The pressure yields results, as the ball bounces fortuitously and falls in front of Preeti Rai. The midfielder has a shot with her left foot, but it goes just wide of the target.

Substitute Pyari Xaxa, who came on moments ago in place of Rimpa, lays it off to Grace, and the forward falls down after a coming together with Bimala. However, the referee waves off all penalty shouts from the Blue Tigresses.

Half-an-hour gone at Shillong, and Nepal have held on to their slender lead. India are controlling much more of the ball, but the final ball is still missing. Another long ball tried to split the Nepali defence and find Xaxa, but the goalkeeper grabbed on to it.

Brilliant move from India – their best of the match so far. Dangmei Grace put in a peach of a delivery from the right flank, but it evaded two Indian forwards. It somehow fell to Basfore, but he shot is wild and off target.

Bhandari is one of the best Asian footballers, and she has been a real nuisance for the Indian defenders all through the first half. Crispin Chhetri will need to make some tactical tweaks to neutralise her threat in the second half.

A brilliant through ball from Dipa Shahi found Bhandari in the box. An excellent first touch from the forward gave her the upper hand, but Panthoi Chanu came rushing out and stole the ball off her opponent's feet. Brave goalkeeping from the Indian custodian.

After two minutes of added time, the referee blows her whistle to indicate half time at Shillong. Nepal go to break one goal ahead, and they had the better chances of the game. A big second half remains ahead.

The Gorkhalis Chelis, one goal ahead, get the second half underway. No half-time changes for either side as far as I can see. India have 45 minutes to find an equaliser. If the match ends in a draw, we can see penalty shootouts. Stay tuned for live updates!

Nepal have started the second half with renewed vigour, with Bhandari continuing to trouble the Indian backline. Sabita dispossesses Rajana Chanu and plays it to Bhandari, but the defenders force her wide, and the chance is gone.

India are really struggling to make any forays forward into the Nepali third of the pitch. Another short pass is intercepted by Preeti Rai, who lays it off to Bhandari. The cross to Rekha is eventually blocked, but Nepal are the ones dictating play at the moment.

An inviting ball into the box is left by Bhandari for Dipa Shahi, but the latter can't catch it cleanly, with the shot bouncing into the gloves of Panthoi Chanu. However, the forward seems to get caught with her studs on the pitch, and goes down in considerable pain.

Meanwhile, India bring on Karishma Shirvoikar, replacing Mousumi Murmu.

What. A. Goal!!!!!!! This is truly one for the ages. Nepal win a free-kick some 25 yards from Panthoi Chanu's goal. Sabitra Bhandari steps up to take it, and she goes for goal herself. It sails over the wall and then dips down viciously, somehow sneaking under the crossbar to beat the full stretch of the Indian goalkeeper. Nepal double their lead.

The second goal has given Nepal a boost in confidence to test Panthoi Chanu's goal even further. Rekha finds Renuka just outside the box, and the latter has a shot that sails just wide of the post.

Nepal are happy slowing down the tempo of the game, with India have 15 minutes plus stoppage time to make any kind of inroad into the contest. However, Crispin Chhetri's long-ball tactic is not bearing fruit at the moment, with Nepal winning back the posession pretty quickly.

Nepal are looking more likely to score a third at the moment. The Gorkhali Chelis make a double change, with Dipa Shahi coming off. Bimala BK also hobbles off the pitch. Rashmi Kumari and Meena Deuba come on.

That's the goal that India were looking for! Nepal concede a needless free-kick, and Nirmala Devi floats in an inch-perfect ball into the box. Karishma is rewarded for making a run in the penalty area, poking it past Anjana Rana to pull one back for India. Game on!!

Sabirra Bhandari is putting in a powerhouse of a performance. She almost restored Nepal's two-goal lead with a bullet shot, but it was somehow kept out. India, though, continue to press hard for the equaliser.

A number of changes for the Blue Tigresses, with Nirmala Devi being replaced by Kiran Pasda. Babina Devi and Julan Nongmaithem also come on.

Time is running out for India, with the regulation ninety minutes up. The fourth official holds up her board and indicates a minimum of six minutes to be added on. That's how long the Blue Tigresses have to get something out of this contest.

A very meek climax to what has been an exciting contest in Shillong, with India barely threatening Anjana Rana's goal in injury time. The referee has a look at her watch and blows the full-time whistle.

Nepal have snatched a brilliant away victory against the Blue Tigresses, and it was the Sabitra Bhandari show! Two goals from the Wellington Phoenix striker, and the Gorkhalis Chelis have sealed a deserved win.