India start title defence with victory

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Sept 8 : India started their quest for the sixth SAFF Women’s Championship title with a 3-0 defeat over Pakistan while Bangladesh also opened the campaign with a 3-0 rout over the Maldives at Dasarath Stadium, Kathmandu on Wednesday.

In the first match of the day, Grace Dangmei and Soumya Guguloth netted one goal apiece for India. Skipper Maria Khan’s unintentional goal in her own post disappointed the return of Pakistan to international football after eight years of hiatus.  

India took the lead when Pakistan's skipper Khan unintentionally turned the ball into her net in the 21st minute when goalkeeper Shahid Bukhari cleared the cross off Ranganathan Sandhya onto her path. 

Dangme doubled the lead two minutes later when she penetrated the gap between the goalkeeper Bukhari and the post with a powerful shot to the through ball off Anju Tamang.

The defending champions added the third in the added minutes through Substitute Guguloth and ensured the victory.

Gugulethu left footed shot to Ranjana Chanu’s cross found the bottom corner of the goal-post, giving no chance to Pakistan goalkeeper Bukhari.

Pakistan got a rare chance to score but failed to take the lead through Nadia Khan.  Zulfia Nazir provided a perfect cross to Khan but the latter shot it outside of the post. 

Pakistan will look to bounce back into the tournament when they take on Bangladesh on September 10. India will play against the Maldives in the second match of the same day. In the second match, the first-half three goals were enough for Bangladesh to register a comfortable victory over the Maldives. Skipper Sabina Khatun scored a brace and Masura Pravin netted one goal to give Bangladesh a winning start.

Khatun’s shot from outside of the box went straight into the back of the net in the 32 minutes. Two minutes later Pravin doubled the lead as she rolled the ball into the bottom corner of the Maldivian post. 

Bangladesh extended the lead to 3-0 in the 40th minute as Captain Khatun finished off the rebound for her second goal.