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With a 6-0 victory over Indonesia on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at the Viet Tri Stadium in Viet Tri City, Vietnam, the India U-20 Women’s National Team made it two wins from two in Group F of the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers Round 1.
As with their 7-0 victory over Singapore on the opening day, India established a rhythm from the start. As a result of Maymol Rocky’s girls scoring three goals in each half, they remain at the top of the table with six points and a positive goal difference of 13.
Hemam Shilky Devi replaced Linda Chanu as centre-back, Lisham Babina Devi replaced Martina Thokchom in midfield, and Neha replaced Sumati Kumari on the left wing.
In the third minute, India’s captain Aparna Narzary hit the post with a left-footed strike. Nonetheless, Neha would soon score, tapping in a right-footed cutback from Anita Kumari in the next minute.
Once again, the duo combined with increasing India’s lead. Anita drilled a low cross from the right, which evaded everyone and fell perfectly into Neha’s path. She slammed it into the roof of the net.
With some brilliant individual play, Neha could have had her hat trick after a couple of tap-ins. But, instead, the ball was shot over the keeper at the far post after she had skied past two challenges on the edge of the box.
At halftime, the score was 3-0. After racing to the by-line, Aparna cut the ball back for midfielder Kajol Dsouza, who was rushing into the box at full speed. With a solid first-time effort, Kajol scored her second-season goal.
In the second half, Indonesian goalkeeper Fani made a strong save to prevent Anita from scoring from close range. He then dived at full stretch to prevent Kajol from scoring from 20 yards out.
However, she could do nothing about Apurna’s headed goal in the 54th minute. After Neha floated a corner towards the far post, Indonesia launched a nervous clearance, which fell kindly to Apurna, who nodded it home from close range.
Apurna was then denied her second of the day by the offside flag. Fani saved a low shot from Kajol, and the rebound fell for the Indian skipper, who put it in, but the flag went up as Sumati Kumari was offside in the build-up.
Apurna and Anita missed several one-on-one opportunities before Sumati scored. She met Kajol’s cross with a powerful volley into the six-yard box. Kajol assisted Sumati again as she scored her second in injury time. Sumati made no mistake in slotting the ball past Fani after receiving the midfielder’s defence-splitting pass.
India could’ve matched their opening-day scoreline if not for a disallowed goal. In the game’s last attack, Mousumi Murmu sent home Tania Kanti’s low cross from the left, but the assistant referee’s flag went up for offside.