Jafari hails Iran’s ‘dedication’ as Didar double sinks India
Iran women’s head coach Marziyeh Jafari said her players deserve credit for putting in “a dedicated performance” after Sara Didar’s second-half brace sealed a 2-0 victory over host India at the Tri-Nation Women’s International Friendlies in Shillong on Tuesday.
Iran was composed, physically superior on the ball, and dictated the rhythm of the game almost from the outset.
Jafari’s girls, who stepped onto the pitch at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on the back of an exhausting 29 hours of flight, grew in confidence, stringing together flowing moves, while India struggled to build anything meaningful in the final third.
Still, Iran had to wait until the second half to break the deadlock, with Didar coming off the bench to make the difference with double strikes in the space of 10 minutes.
An unmarked Zahra Qanbari rose to head against the crossbar Didar acrobatically smashed home the rebound in the 64th minute.
India’s Nongmaithem Ratanbala Devi then misjudged the bounce of a routine clearance at the top of the box, allowing Didar to snatch the ball and rifle a low strike past the goalkeeper.
“Thank God, we got through that game well. The players took to the pitch with immense focus and motivation and gave their heart and soul. This victory is a testament to girls’ hard work and passion,” Jafari said after the game.
“India is a strong side, both technically and physically, and playing against them is always tough. However, my players stuck to the gameplan to dictate the tempo and their decision-making was exceptional when it mattered most,” added the newly-crowned Asian Women’s Coach of the Year.
On how the long trip affected her team in the buildup to the game, Jafari said: “It definitely took a physical toll on the squad. An extra day for recovery and preparation would have made for a more ideal start to the competition. But credit to the players – they fought through the fatigue and delivered a dedicated performance, which speaks volumes about their character.”
Next up for Jafari and her team in the tournament is a game against Nepal on Friday.
“Our objective here goes beyond just results; we also want to improve the cohesion between our lines and enhance the players’ international experience. These games are a valuable opportunity for a tactical assessment of the team, and fortunately, our performance is on an upward trajectory and I just hope the players can keep up the momentum against Nepal,” Jafari said.
Iran is preparing for next March’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, where Jafari’s girls will face the host, South Korea and the Philippines in Group A.