New Delhi: The Indian football team defeated Nepal 1-0 in the last group stage of the SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship 2021 at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Sipahi Mostafa Kamal Stadium, Dhaka, on Sunday.
The match began slow, with both teams actively saving their nets before India seized the ball. Captain Shilky Devi passed the ball to Sumati Kumari, who missed it in the 19th minute. Nepal’s keeper Anjana Magar saved again as Lynda Kom chased the ball and gave a cross to Sumati in the 25th minute.
The Indian team tried scoring but in vain. Amisha Baxla shot in the 36th minute as the ball went over the bar. A penalty from opponents gave India another opportunity to score in the 42nd minute. Priyangka Devi free-kicked from the corner and moved the ball towards the center, where Shilky passed it back to Priyangka. The ball went off-target.
The second half began with India dominating the match. Kom received a left corner from Mariyammal Balamurugan in the 10th minute but misjudged the head kick. Meanwhile, India tried to score again in the 66th minute. Sumati crossed the line, entered Nepal’s box from the left, and cut Priyangka.
Priyangka’s shot brushed off a defender before netting a first for the team as Nepal looked on, threatened by the combination and placements of the opponents.
Indian coach Alex Ambrose made several changes throughout the match. He replaced Kritina Devi and Santosh Devi with Nitu Linda and Kom in the starting XI, then replaced Linda, Kom, and Baxla with Santosh, Apurna Narzary, and Sandhiya Ranganathan in the 65th minute.
Karen Estrocio replaced Mariyammal in the 79th minute, followed by Karen replacing Sandhiya in the last five minutes.
India scored 3 points in the group stage and advanced into the finals. The SAFF finals will be held on Wednesday.
(Avya Mathur)