SAFF Championship: In the first match of Group A under the 6th Women’s SAFF Championship, former champion India started victoriously.
India registered a 3-0 victory over Pakistan and added 3 points.
At the start of the match, Pakistan created some good moves, but the team was under pressure after the Pakistani captain scored their own goal. After scoring the second goal a few minutes after the first goal, Pakistan took a defensive strategy. Although India continued to attack after that, it was difficult to add goals. India took the lead in injury time.
Pakistan squandered a golden opportunity to take the lead in the fourth minute of the game at Dasharath Stadium. Nadia Khan could not score a goal in a one vs one situation with Zulfia Nazir’s pass. Nadia’s shot from the right side of the penalty area on the pass given by Zulfia beating the offside trap did not give the goalkeeper a problem.
India took the lead in the 20th minute of the game. India’s Sandhya Ranganathan’s cross from the left wing was saved by goalkeeper Shahida Mahpara. But the ball that came on the rebound went to the captain Maria Khan and entered her own post.
India doubled the lead less than two minutes after scoring the first goal. Dangmei Grace scored from inside the penalty area to make it 2-0. She took control of Anju Tamang’s clever pass and scored a goal in one versus one.
Captain Maria’s shot in the 59th minute was easily saved by India’s goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan. Soon after, in the 61st minute, Zulfia’s cross went straight to the post, but Aditi saved her second attempt. In the 65th minute, Ranjana Chanu’s cross was beaten by Pakistan’s defense line and the goalkeeper, but Soumya Gugulgoth was awarded a penalty when she touched the ball with her hand.
In the 73rd minute, India missed another opportunity to increase the lead. Grace’s cross was beaten by the goalkeeper, but Kiran Pisda could not score the ball at the empty post. Soon after, Ritu Rani’s shot from about 30 yards went wide of the near post. In the 80th minute, Anju’s shot from Kiran’s pass could not take the direction of the post.
India added another goal in injury time. Ranjana Chanu‘s cross was scored by Soumya Gugulgoth to secure a 3-0 win.
SAFF Championship Next Match
Bangladesh will face Maldives in the second match of Group A today. The match will be played at Dashrath Stadium at 5:30 PM.
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