Suzhou, May 12 -- Tears flowed across one dugout at the Suzhou Sports Centre Stadium after the final whistle. Several Indian players dropped to the ground in disappointment, others stood frozen in silence, while coaches and teammates moved around trying to console one another.

The Young Tigresses had come within one match of a historic FIFA U17 Women's World Cup qualification, and the pain of seeing that dream slip away was visible on every face after the 0-3 quarter-final defeat against hosts China PR on Monday, according to a release.

"It is hard for me to speak because we did not expect this result," said India centre-back Abhista Basnett after the match.

"We came into the match with a different mentality, but football is like that ...