The Indian women's football team began their SAFF Women's Championship campaign in spectacular fashion, thrashing Maldives 11-0 in their opening Group A match. The match, played at the Dasharath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal, saw India dominate from the first whistle.
First Half Onslaught
India took the lead in the 12th minute through Manisha Kalyan, who scored with a powerful strike from outside the box. The goal opened the floodgates as India added three more goals before halftime. Sandhiya Ranganathan doubled the lead in the 18th minute, followed by a goal from Indumathi Kathiresan in the 25th minute. Manisha Kalyan scored her second of the match in the 35th minute to make it 4-0 at the break.
Second Half Dominance
The second half continued in similar fashion, with India adding seven more goals. Manisha Kalyan completed her hat-trick in the 52nd minute, scoring from a corner kick. Substituted players also made an impact, with Soumya Guguloth scoring twice in the 60th and 75th minutes. Other goal scorers included Anju Tamang (65th minute), Ritu Rani (70th minute), and a brace from substitute Dangmei Grace (80th and 85th minutes). The final goal came from a Maldives own goal in the 90th minute.
Key Performances
- Manisha Kalyan: The star of the match with a hat-trick and an assist.
- Soumya Guguloth: Scored two crucial goals after coming off the bench.
- Dangmei Grace: Provided energy and scored a brace in the second half.
The Indian defense was also solid, with goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan making a few saves to keep a clean sheet. Maldives struggled to create any meaningful chances against the organized Indian backline.
Group Standings
With this win, India tops Group A with three points and a goal difference of +11. Bangladesh and Pakistan are the other teams in the group, and India will face them in their upcoming matches. The team will look to continue their dominant form to secure a spot in the semifinals.
India's next match is against Bangladesh on September 9, 2024. The match is expected to be a tougher test for the Indian team, as Bangladesh has shown improvement in recent years. However, with the confidence from this massive win, India will be aiming for another victory.
