The Indian senior women’s football team made a commanding start to their preparatory tour of Australia, registering a comprehensive 5–0 victory over Perth RedStar FC in a closed-door friendly at Dalmatinac Park in Perth on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
The Blue Tigresses were in control from the outset and carried a comfortable 3–0 lead into half-time, setting the tone for a dominant performance.
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The match marked India’s first outing since arriving in Western Australia on February 11, following the conclusion of their overseas training camp in Türkiye. With the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 fast approaching, the fixture provided head coach Amelia Valverde and her support staff with an early opportunity to assess match fitness, tactical sharpness, and squad combinations in competitive conditions.
India’s attacking unit delivered an impressive display, with Aveka Singh emerging as the standout performer with a brace. The forward capitalised on defensive lapses from the Australian club side and showed composure in front of goal to open her account for the tour. Pyari Xaxa added to the tally with a well-taken finish, while Nirmala Devi Phanjoubam and Sanju also found the back of the net to round off a convincing performance.
The visitors started with intent and maintained control in possession through the first half, effectively stretching the opposition defence and creating opportunities through wide areas. Their attacking approach paid dividends as India surged into a three-goal lead before the break, demonstrating clinical finishing and effective link-up play in the final third.
Despite the friendly nature of the contest, the result will serve as a significant confidence boost for the squad as they gear up for the continental showpiece next month. More importantly, the team appeared physically prepared and tactically organised, having recently completed a demanding six-match friendly schedule in Türkiye against club sides from Ukraine, Russia, Switzerland, Germany, and Romania. India recorded three wins, one draw, and two defeats during that phase of their preparations.
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The Australian leg of the tour now continues with another closed-door friendly against Perth Azzurri on February 23 at Macedonia Park, scheduled for a 16:00 IST kick-off. The second fixture will offer the coaching staff another chance to experiment with squad rotations and fine-tune strategies ahead of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
India are set to begin their Group C campaign in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 against Vietnam on March 4 at the Perth Rectangular Stadium. They will then face Japan on March 7 at the same venue, followed by a clash against Chinese Taipei on March 10 at the Western Sydney Stadium.
With limited time remaining before the start of the tournament, these friendly fixtures are expected to play a crucial role in bridging the gap between training ground drills and high-pressure international competition. The emphasis remains on building cohesion within the squad and ensuring match readiness across all departments.
The Blue Tigresses’ emphatic victory over Perth RedStar FC not only underlines their attacking potential but also highlights the steady progress made in recent months through structured preparation and international exposure during the last three months. As they continue their build-up to the Asian Cup, performances such as this will be vital in shaping momentum and instilling belief within the squad.
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If the opening friendly is any indication, India’s preparations appear to be heading in the right direction as they look to make a strong impression on the continental stage in March.
