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Odisha FC Suffers Crushing 17-0 Defeat to Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies in AFC Women's Champions League Opener
Odisha FC defeated by Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies
In a one-sided affair, Indian football club Odisha FC was thrashed 17-0 by Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies in their inaugural group stage match of the AFC Women's Champions League 2024-25 at the Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on Sunday. The dominant Japanese side, reigning champions of Japan's WE League and winners of the 2023 AFC Women's Club Championship, left no stone unturned in their demolition of the Indian team.
The match was a masterclass in attacking football, with Urawa Reds' Yu Endo opening the floodgates in the fifth minute. The Japanese club's relentless pressure yielded a staggering 55 attempts on goal, with 29 of those on target. In contrast, Odisha FC managed a solitary shot on goal, which came in stoppage time.
Miki Ito was the star of the show, netting four goals (56', 59', 62', 90+4'), while Yuzuho Shiokoshi scored a hat-trick (15', 18', 30'). Seven other Urawa Reds players found the back of the net, including Satoko Fujisaki (9'), Ena Takatsuka (13'), Mei Shimada (17', 44'), Ririka Tanno (52'), Akari Kurishima (54'), Fuka Tsunoda (68'), and Ami Takeuchi (83'). Maryam Juke Ibrahim's 66th-minute own goal added to Odisha FC's misery.
This crushing defeat is not an isolated incident, as Urawa Reds had previously hammered Indian side Gokulam Kerala 8-0 in last year's AFC Women's Club Championship. The Japanese side's dominance in the region is evident, and Odisha FC will need to regroup quickly to salvage their campaign.
The Crispin Chhetri-coached Odisha side, reigning IWL champions, were missing key players for the contest. Midfielder Grace Hauhnar was suspended following her red card against Etihad, while India international Pyari Xaxa was absent due to a minor bike accident before the team's departure for Vietnam.
Odisha FC will look to bounce back from this heavy defeat when they face local side Ho Chi Minh City FC in their second Group C encounter on Wednesday. Taichung Blue Whale of Chinese Taipei is the other team in the group, and Odisha FC will need to show significant improvement to compete with these formidable opponents.
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