The Indian under-19 women’s football team thrashed Pakistan 18-0 in the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship Qualifiers played at Chonburi in Thailand. This was their opening match.
In the match, three women footballers from Northeast scored total 5 goals.
India’s Renu turned in a smashing performance, as she put five past the Pakistan keeper, all in the second half, to help India win.
The Indians put a spectacular performance and maintained the intensity on their opponents all through the game, as they took the scoreline well into double figures.
Manisha opened the scoring in the second minute after a melee inside the box saw her end up with some space from close range as she pulled the trigger.
This goal opened the proverbial floodgates, as Manisha scored another goal (25), while Devneta also netted twice (9) and (25) while Daya Devi (Manipur) scoring in the 27th minute. Meanwhile, Pakistan goalkeeper Eman Fayyaz scored an own goal, to round off the first 30 minutes.
Papki Devi (Manipur) and captain Jabamani Tudu also scored two in injury time, to make it 9-0 at half-time.
Manisha and Daya Devi (56?) scored two more right after the kickoff. Renu gave a great performance, as she scored five goals after coming on in the second half. Her supreme form meant that coach Alex Ambrose decided to push Devneta Roy back into the hole while Renu led the line.
Roja Devi (Manipur) scored two goals in 31st and 59th minute while Soumyta Guguloth (77’) scored the other goal, which made it 18-0 for India.
Meanwhile, Pakistan coach Mohammad Siddique Sheikh said that it is a learning curve for Pakistan, as their players were on the pitch for the first time after a long gap.
India Starting XI: Archana; Papki Devi – Manipur, Thahenbi – Manipur, Samiksha, Kanchan Chanu- Mizoram; Jabamani Tudu (C), Grace Lalrampari, Roja Devi – Manipur; Manisha, Daya Devi – Manipur, Devneta Roy.