Indian women pump in 15 goals past Maldives

Five-star performances from winger Sasmita Malik and midfielder Kamala Devi underlined India’s dominance in a match where their counterparts failed to register even a single shot on goal.

Captain Bembem Devi, strikers Bala and Prameshwori Devi alongwith defender Ashalata Devi also got on the scoresheet. It was such a lopsided encounter that goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan would rue not netting one.

The Indian women who led 9-0 at the interval next play hosts South Korea on Sep 17 while their last Group League match is against Thailand on Sept 19.

The twice SAFF Champions seized the initiative right from the kick-off as they dominated proceedings all throughout in the completely one-sided encounter. The flurry of passes, the slowing down of the game at will, the sudden bursts of speed and the quick interchanging proved too much for the Maldives women as they surrendered meekly.

Meanwhile, the Indian U-23 Men begin their campaign on Monday (September 15) when they take on a strong United Arab Emirates, the silver medalists of the last Asian Games held in Guangzhou in 2010. The kick-off of the match is at IST 1.30pm.

However, the last time the two Teams met in the AFC U-22 Championships in Muscat, the match had ended 1-1.

Coming to the goals, it was as early as in the 5th minute when Bembem– who by the end of the match was the architect of almost all the goals – picked out Sasmita on top of the box, with the fleet footed left winger then turning her marker to smash a powerful shot low to the keeper’s right.

Midfielder Kamala doubled the tally for the blue shirts 12 minutes later with fine strike from inside the area after combining well with Bembem.

In form striker Bala made pulled away further from their lacklustre counterparts in the very next minute, placing the ball onto the roof of the net from a Tuli Goon cross from the right.

Three minutes later, Sasmita got her second this time scoring off the rebound after Prameshwori Devi had forced the keeper to a diving save.

It was only the 21st minute of the match and the all of Maldives’ players were drafted inside their own half to stop the carnage.

But nothing was going to work as Kamala heaped on more misery in the 23rd minute turning well to beat her marker and firing low off another Bembem put-through.

Sasmita notched up her hattrick in the 26th minute and by the half hour mark Kamala did the same. By the time it was halftime Bala was at the double and Kamala had scored her fourth as India went into the break leading by 9 goals.

Ashalata joined the fun after the break with Bembem deservingly netting one too as India gave the scorers at the ground a harrowing time.

Kamala scored her fifth in the 66th minute, Bembem again turning provider to tee up her state mate.

Sasmita crowned her superlative showing with a dipping free kick in the 80th minute from 25 yards. She was not done yet, turning in her fifth seven minutes on. Prameshwori completed the rout in added time.