PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, March 22 : India continued its winning record in the ongoing SAFF U-18 Women’s Football Championship 2022 by defeating Nepal 5-1 in their third fixture of the tournament at the JRD Tata Sports Complex on Monday evening.
The match was played under flood lights.
A hattrick by Lynda Kom in the 23rd, 38th and 61st minutes, and a goal each by Shilky Devi in the 16th minute and Anita Kumari in the 54th minute led India to a rather comfortable win in a show of dominance after Nepal had pulled one goal back in the second-half.
India’s first goal came in the 16th minute when captain Shilky Devi delivered with an inch-perfect header from Nitu Linda’s pass.
Couple of minutes later, Lynda Kom, in the 23rd minute, doubled the lead with a glancing header.
After having a two- goal lead, India’s combination play threatened the Nepal backline.
In the 25th minute, Nitu Linda tried to shoot from the top-left corner but eventually missed it.
Another goal was scored by Lynda Kom in the 38th minute when she made a first-time volley to chip in the ball off a cross from the right by Shilky.
Minutes into the added time of the first-half, coach Dennerby made the first substitution where Sunita Munda was replaced by Amisha Baxla. The half-time scoreline read 3-0 in favour of India.
The second-half began on a similar note to the first with India dominating the proceedings.
India made it four for the night in the 54th minute through Anita’s powerful long range shot from more than 25 yards out. The hosts fifth goal through Lynda Kom’s hat-trick in the 61st minute from Sunita’s low cross from the right.
In the 79th minute, Nepal pulled one goal back through Sadipa Bholan, who latched on to a loose ball and slotted it home.
The Indian girls scripted a dominating performance and at the end of time the full-time scoreline read 5-1 in India’s favour. India increased their lead in pole position on the table with 9 points from 3 matches.
