After staying in the contest through the first half, the Indian women’s football team eventually lost 4-0 to higher-ranked Russia in the first of two IND-W vs RUS-W 2026 international friendlies at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Thursday.
Iana Sheina (41’), Kira Petukhova (60’, 65’) and Iana Svistunova (81’) scored for the world No. 27 visitors against the 69th-ranked India.
The match marked the Indian women’s senior team’s first-ever international appearance in Kolkata and their first outing since winning a record-extending sixth SAFF Women’s Championship title in June.
Head coach Crispin Chettri also used the match to blood emerging players, handing senior international debuts to Thingbaijam Babysana Devi, Malati Munda, Cindy Colney, Shubhangi Singh, Dhurga Perumal and Sibani Devi Nongmeikapam.
Goalkeeper Monalisha Devi Moirangthem, meanwhile, made her first senior international start on her third appearance for India, having come off the bench in her previous two outings.
Despite the 42-place gap in the football rankings, the Blue Tigresses held their own for much of the opening half.
The Russian women’s football team enjoyed more possession, but India remained compact defensively while Monalisha stood firm in goal.
The hosts also fashioned opportunities of their own. Malavika Prasad had one of India’s best openings around the half-hour mark, but Russian goalkeeper Natalia Silina rushed off her line to avert the danger.
Lynda Kom also had an opportunity before Russia finally broke India’s resistance shortly before half-time.
Sheina found the bottom corner to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage heading into the interval.
Heavy rain made conditions more challenging after the restart and Russia began to exert greater pressure.
Petukhova doubled the lead on the hour after Monalisha could only parry Nadezhda Smirnova’s long-range effort on the wet surface, allowing the substitute to finish from close range.
Five minutes later, Petukhova capitalised on another opening inside the Indian penalty area to make it 3-0.
Chettri responded with changes, bringing on Shubhangi Singh, Priyadharshini Selladurai and Renu in the 66th minute.
Russia, however, continued to press and Svistunova completed the scoring in the 81st minute after controlling a delivery from the left before finding the net.
The defeat was India’s third in as many senior meetings with Russia, following losses at the Turkish Women’s Cup in 2021 and Pink Ladies Cup in 2025.
The Blue Tigresses will have an opportunity to respond when the two teams meet again at the same venue on Sunday.
READ MORE: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/india-vs-russia-2026-women-football-friendly-1-result-score
