Indian women made an emphatic start to their SAFF U-18 Championship campaign with a 7-0 win against Nepal at JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur on Tuesday.
Centre forward Lynda Kom Serto (17’, 35’) scored a brace for India while Priyanka Sujeesh (14’), Apurna Narzary (69’), Purnima Kumari (76’), Sunita Munda (86’) and Nitu Linda (90+7’) put one behind the net each to give the runners-up from last edition a chance to clinch the elusive title.
Coach Thomas Dennerby had said “the results are of paramount importance” and his wards — who will form the core group for the hosts at the upcoming FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup — did not disappoint. Playing a high line from the start, the Indians kept making runs from both flanks, keeping the Nepal defence under pressure.
It didn’t take long for the hosts to find a breakthrough as Priyanka slotted home the ball from the middle of the box in the 14th minute.
Just three minutes later, Lynda pounced on a cross from Amisha Kumari from the left to double the lead. While India had eight shots on target in the first half, they finished the half on 3-0 when Lynda converted a perfect cross from Ritu Kumari from the right.
Sunstitute Apurna scored India’s fourth goal in the 69th minute, shooting in the ball from 20 yards off with a half turn.
With the team in control, Dennerby made more substitutions to give the girls more game time and soon Purnima Kumari’s header from an Astam Oraon brilliant free-kick made the score 5-0 in the 76th minute while substitute Sunita’s goal further increased the lead 10 minutes later.
After Anita Kumari’s strike from goalmouth was adjudged off-side, she made amends by sending in a perfect pass for Nitu a minute later to end the match on 7-0.
India will hope to carry the momentum when they take on defending champions Bangladesh on Saturday.
