The India U20 women’s national team suffered a narrow 1-2 defeat against Swedish club Karlbergs BK at the Bosön National Sports Centre in Lidingö, Sweden, on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
Despite taking the lead in the second half, the Young Tigresses were unable to hold on as the hosts turned the contest around within a span of minutes.
The match formed part of India’s ongoing exposure tour in Sweden, where the side has been competing against local clubs to gain international match experience. The result adds another competitive outing to a tour that has already seen a mix of outcomes.
Four Changes to the Starting XI
Head coach Joakim Alexandersson made four alterations to the starting lineup from the previous match against Enskede IK Dam, which had ended in a 1-1 draw. The adjustments were aimed at rotating the squad and providing opportunities within a demanding schedule.
India began the contest with Nandini in goal, supported by Remi Thokchom, Thoibisana Chanu Toijam, Cindy Remruatpuii Colney and Shubhangi Singh in defence. The midfield and forward lines featured Pooja, Anju Chanu Kayenpaibam, Lhingdeikim, Neha, Sibani Devi Nongmeikapam and Sulanjana Raul.
The opening half saw both teams attempt to establish control, though neither side managed to break the deadlock before the interval. India had earlier drawn 1-1 against Enskede IK Dam, lost 0-6 to Hammarby IF, and recorded a 4-0 win over Täby FK during the tour.
Neha Breaks the Deadlock
The breakthrough came in the 56th minute when Neha put India ahead. The goal provided momentum to the visitors and placed them in a promising position midway through the second half. However, the lead proved short-lived. Karlbergs BK responded within minutes, equalising shortly after conceding. The quick reply shifted the tempo of the match, restoring parity and injecting renewed urgency into the contest.
The Swedish side capitalised further in the 72nd minute, scoring what would eventually stand as the winning goal. From that point onward, India were chasing the game but were unable to find an equaliser before the final whistle.
Watch Indian Live Scores and Play Quiz – Download IndiaSportsHub App
Coach Alexandersson made several substitutions across the second half as India sought to manage workload and influence the outcome. Arina Devi Nameirakpam replaced Anju Chanu Kayenpaibam at halftime, with Misha Bhandari later coming on in the 69th minute.
Pooja was substituted for Monisha Singha in the 63rd minute, while Lhingdeikim made way for Bhumika Devi Khumukcham at the same time. Sibani Devi Nongmeikapam was replaced by Shilji Shaji, and Sulanjana Raul was substituted for Babita Kumari, also in the 63rd minute. Neha, who had opened the scoring, was replaced by Deepika Pal in the 85th minute.
The substitutions reflected continued rotation within the squad as the team navigates multiple fixtures in a short span.
The Young Tigresses will return to action in the early hours of Thursday, March 5, 2026, when they take on Älvsjö AIK Fotboll at 01:00 IST.
The Sweden tour has provided India U20 women with varied competitive experiences a heavy defeat against Hammarby IF, a convincing win over Täby FK, a draw with Enskede IK Dam, and now a narrow loss to Karlbergs BK. Each match has offered different tactical challenges and match situations.
Against Karlbergs BK, India demonstrated the ability to take the lead but were unable to convert that advantage into a positive result. As the tour progresses, the focus will shift to sustaining momentum after scoring and managing crucial phases following goals.
With one more scheduled fixture remaining, the Young Tigresses will look to conclude their Sweden campaign on a positive note when they face Älvsjö AIK Fotboll later this week.
