Blue Tigresses Roar: India Women’s Football Team Dominates Maldives in Back-to-Back Friendlies
The Indian Women’s Football Team showcased an exceptional display of skill and dominance in their latest international friendlies against the Maldives Women’s Team, securing victories with scores of 14-0 and 11-1.
These matches, held at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence, not only marked a strong finish to 2024 but also an impressive start to the new year for the Blue Tigresses.
First Match – A Resounding 14-0 Victory:
In the first match on December 30, 2024, India’s women’s team under the newly-appointed Swedish coach Joakim Alexandersson, delivered a masterclass in attacking football.
Lynda Kom Serto, on her debut, was the star of the show, scoring an astonishing four goals. She was closely followed by Pyari Xaxa, who completed a hat-trick by the 15th minute, demonstrating her prowess from different areas of the pitch.
Neha, also making her debut, scored twice, while Kajol Dsouza added two more to the tally. The other scorers included Sangita Basfore, Sorokhaibam Ranjana Chanu, and Rimpa Haldar, each contributing one goal to the final scoreline.
The lineup for India in this match was:
Goalkeeper: Maibam Linthoingambi Devi
Defenders: Sangita Basfore, Sanju, Lynda Kom Serto, Aruna Bag
Midfielders: Grace Dangmei (C), Nitu Linda, Juli Kishan
Forwards: Pyari Xaxa, Neha, Sorokhaibam Ranjana Chanu
Substitutes like Shivani Toppo, Kajol Dsouza, Rimpa Haldar, Pooja, Viksit Bara, and Toijam
Thoibisana Chanu also made significant impacts when introduced.
Second Match – Sustained Dominance with 11-1 Win:
On January 2, 2025, the second friendly saw India continue their aggressive play, although with some changes in the lineup.
Lhingdeikim led the charge with another debutant’s hat-trick, finding the net in the 12th, 16th, 56th, and 59th minutes.
Nongmeikapam Sibani Devi also scored on her debut, contributing one goal. The team’s scoring was rounded off by Kajol Dsouza, Pooja, Simran Gurung (scoring twice), and Khumukcham Bhumika Devi from a penalty kick.
Maldives managed a solitary goal through Mariyam Rifa, but this was overshadowed by an own goal from their captain Hawwa Haneefa.
The lineup for the second match included:
Goalkeeper: Maibam Linthoingambi Devi
Defenders: Aruna Bag, Sibani Devi, Juhi Singh, Thingbaijam Sanjita Devi
Midfielders: Sangita Basfore, Kajol Dsouza, Nitu Linda Forwards: Lhingdeikim, Monisha Singha, Pooja
Substitutes Ribansi Jamu, Khumukcham Bhumika Devi, and Simran Gurung made notable contributions off the bench.
The Maldives were reduced to 10 players in the last 20 minutes after Maeesha Abdul Hannan was sent off, facilitating India’s continued scoring spree.
Despite the significant gap in FIFA rankings, with Maldives at 163rd and India at 69th, these matches are undoubtedly a confidence booster for the Indian squad.
Moving forward, the real challenge lies in sustaining this momentum and converting these displays into competitive results against more formidable opponents, aiming to secure qualification for more prestigious international tournaments.
