India 2-1 Thailand Highlights, AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers: Sangita Brace Secures Qualification For Blue Tigresses

Hello and welcome to all our readers tuning in to the start of our live coverage of the crucial ‘knockout’ match between India and Thailand in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers.

The action at Chiang Mai starts at 6:00 PM IST, so stay tuned for pre-match updates and lineups as they are released.

The match will be live-streamed on the Thailand Women's Football Facebook page and the Changsuek YouTube channel for free.

“Tomorrow’s game is not only about us qualifying for the AFC. It will be massive not only for women’s football but for everyone related to football in India. It will be like a ray of hope,” coach Chhetri told the Times of India.

This is how Group B looks like at the moment. India and Thailand are tied in all aspects. So, today's winner goes through, and the other three teams are knocked out. If the match ends as a tie, we will go to penalties.

Starting XI: Panthoi Chanu (gk), Sweety Devi Nganbam (c), Nirmala Devi, Shilky Devi Hemam, Sangita Basfore, Ratanbala Devi Nongm, Sanju, Anju Tamang, Pyari Xaxa, Manisha Kalyan, Rimpa Haldar

Bench: Purnima Kumari, Grace Dangmei, Karthika Angamuthu, Payal Basude (gk), Ranjana Chanu Sorokhaibam, Martina Thokchom, Soumya Guguloth, Lynda Kom, Priyadarshini Selladurai, Kiran Pisda, Malavika, Monalisha Devi (gk)

Starting XI: Tiffany Sornpao (gk), Kanjanaporn Saenkhun, Supapron Intaraprasit, Natcha Kaewanta, Ploychompoo Somnuek, Chatchawan Rodthong, Pichayatida Manowang, Saowalak Pengngam (c), Jiraporn Mongkoldee, Panittha Jeeratanapavibul, Pattaranan Aupachai

Bench: Praewa Nudnabee, Rhianee Rush, Thanchanok Cheunarom, Pluemjai Sontisawat, Kanyanat Chetthabutr, Nutwadee Pram-Nak, Thawanrat Promthongmee, Karnjanathat Phomsri, Thichanan Sodchuen (gk), Wirunya Kwenkasikum, Pawarisa Homyamyen (gk), Janista Jinantuya

With less than an hour to go until kick off, let's analyse the starting XI chosen by Crispin Chhetri. Two changes in the playing XI from the last match against Iraq, with Sweety Devi and Ratanbala Devi replacing Karthika Angamuthu and Lynda Kom. Will we see different set of tatics being deployed today, especialyl against a more attacking-minded opponent?

The last time these two teams met was in September 2023 in the Women's Asian Games Qualifiers, and Thailand Women won the game 1-0, courtesy of a 51st-minute goal from Parichat Thongrong.

The match was a big improvement from their meeting in 2014, which THA-W won 10-0, with the hosts already up by eight goals by half-time.

The players are out at Chaing Mai, with national anthems set to follow. Kick off is imminent. Stay tuned!

Referee Kim Yu-jeong blows her whistle, and we are underway in this do-or-die match at Chiang Mai. Can Crispin Chhetri’s side pull off an upset and bring a smile to all Indian football fans?

IND 0-0 THA (0')

What a big respite for India. Barely 90 seconds on the clock, and forward Ploychompoo was played through, and the striker finished coolly past Panthoi Chanu. Thankfully, the flag goes up!

IND 0-0 THA (2')

India are struggling going forward. Anju Tamang is the bright spark down the right, but she is not on the save wavelength as Nirmala Devi, with the attacks breaking down quickly.

Jiraporn has a shot at goal from distance, but Panthoi Chanu did well to have her goal covered, but the ball flew over the top bar. Then, Manisha Kalyan broke ahead, but no threat on Tiffany's goal.

IND 0-0 THA (6')

India are trying to push forward more now, and a dangerous left-footed cross from Manisha is headed behind by Panittha. The resulting corner by Nirmala Devi is headed away by the Thai defence, and the hosts try to break, but it does not happen.

IND 0-0 THA (11')

A big sigh from the Indian players, as Jiraporn was found by Pattaranan with a terrific cutback from the right flank. The forward hit it first time, but it lobbed up and was grasped by Panthoi Chanu. Shambolic defending from Shilky Devi, who let the cross go with a horribly-timed slide tackle. A decent chance for the hosts.

IND 0-0 THA (15')

Another big chance for Jiraporn. This time, Pattaranan's cross is found by Saowalak. The skipper keeps it alive and finds Jiraporn, who shoots from outside the box, but it hits the left post and agonisingly comes back.

IND 0-0 THA (17')

The scoreline is goalless, thanks to some terrific defending by the goalpost. India have almost no attacking impetus at the moment, with the player with the ball being surrounded by two Thai players. The visitors being extremely sloppy with ball possession is not helping either.

Ratanbala had a rare shot at goal for India after being played through by Pyari Xaxa, but it's catching practice for Tiffany.

IND 0-0 THA (25')

Out of nowhere, Sangita has a bullet shot and India are ahead!! It's truly against the run of play, with India somehow hanging on, but the visitors break down the right flank, and Anju found Sangita just outside the box. She has a right-footed half-volley effort, and it flew past the diving goalkeeper to nestle at the top left corner.

IND 1-0 THA (29')

India almost went two goals up, as a cross from the right flank found Xaxa in the box. The Thai defender Kanjanaporn completely missed the clearance, and Xaxa tried to poke it in despite being disbalanced. Her weak shot, however, is collected by Tiffany.

IND 1-0 THA (32')

Jiraporn could have had a hattrick by now. The forward did well to get past the full-back with a flying poke, and then had a wild swipe with her right foot. The ball flew upwards, then somehow lobbed down towards the goal, and Panthoi Chanu did exceedingly well to get back and palm it out of the danger area.

IND 1-0 THA (36')

India have done well to keep Thailand players from entering the box, with the shots being forced from outside the penalty area, putting Panthoi Chanu under no pressure at all. Meanwhile, Manisha had a shot at goal, although it was an easy catch for Tiffany, but India are growing in confidence.

Crispin Chhetri will be hoping this has side can hold on to this till half-time. Two minutes of added time.

IND 1-0 THA (45')

Thailand had a late burst of pressure on India’s goal, but no serious threat on either goal, and India go to the break with a slender lead. Really sad scenes at the end, as a Thai player is carried off the pitch on a stretcher after being involved in a collision with Manisha. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious.

IND 1-0 THA (HT)

The second half is underway at Chiang Mai. India are ahead, but Thailand were clearly the better side in the first 45 minutes. Can the visitors hold off Thailand’s pressure in the second half, or, even better, add a second goal?

Meanwhile, a double change for the hosts at half-time.

IND 1-0 THA (46')

Thailand strike early in the second half, as Chatchawan attempts a cross from the left flank, but it evades every single defender and finds the far corner past a surprised Panthoi Chanu.

Replays show that Saowalak did not get a toe to the ball, despite having a poke, so the goal goes to the left-back.

IND 1-1 THA (47')

With Thailand on the front foot at the moment, Chhetri makes a personnel change, bringing on Grace Dangmei in place of Rimpa.

IND 1-1 THA (55')

Karnjanathat had a golden opportunity to put Thailand ahead. A good cut back from Ploychompoo from the left edge of the box finds the substitute, and she had an empty goal to aim for, but her first-time shot hits the near post and ricochets back.

IND 1-1 THA (57')

Chances at both ends. Substitute Wirunya dropped her shoulder and had a shot from outside the box, and it was just millimetres over the bar, but Panthoi Chanu had it covered.

India broke forward, and Dangmei found herself through on goal, but her shot was tame and easily picked up by the goalkeeper.

IND 1-1 THA (63')

A curling free kick from the right edge of the box by Manisha, and Tiffany did well to see it from a sea of players in the box and punch it away. It fell to Sangita, but her shot is disappointingly wide.

IND 1-1 THA (68')

A brilliantly worked free-kick by India. The ball is floated in by Nirmala Devi, and it is headed back by Shilky Devi from the right. The switch took Tiffany out of the game, and Sangita headed it into an empty net.

IND 2-1 THA (74')

It's one foul too many for Sangita, and the goalscorer is booked by the referee. Indian players have been very physical in this game, much to their credit against a technically-gifted Thai side. Meanwhile, Lynda Kom Serto comes on as a substitute.

IND 2-1 THA (81')

How did Anju Tamang not put it in? A defensive lapse put the forward through, and she did extremely well to get around the onrushing goalkeeper, but then she made the angle too difficult for herself, and her shot is too late and too wide. Will India come to rue this missed opportunity?

IND 2-1 THA (86')

The fourth official indicates a minimum of four minutes to be added on. India are almost there folks!

IND 2-1 THA (90')

Anju goes down with a bad case of leg cramp, and is stretchered off the field, and Malavika comes on in her place. Four minutes have been played, but some time will surely be added on.

IND 2-1 THA (90+4')

After more than seven minutes of added, which surely felt like an eternity for Indian fans, the referee blows her whistle, and it's all over. India are through to the main event!! The joy is palpable, with Sangita Basfore in tears. It was a hard-fought match, but a deserved win for the hosts against a much stronger team.

IND 2-1 THA (FT)

This is how Group B looks like after today's match. India have well and truly outdone themselves, and the prize? A plane ticket to Australia for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026!!

That's the wrap on our live coverage of today's match between India and Thailand. It was a joy to watch for Indian fans as well as neutrals, but hearbreak for the hosts.

Thank you for sticking with us throughout our live coverage of the game, and check out our homepage for more live blogs.