AFC Championship Qualifiers: Indian Girls Thrash UAE 12-0
The Indian U-16 girls team created a record of the highest number of goals scored in a single match at the Bangabandhu Stadium in Dhaka.
A ruthless Indian U-16 women's football team spanked United Arab Emirates (UAE) 12-0 to keep its hopes alive in the AFC Championship qualifying round, here on Tuesday.
Roja Devi and substitute Anushka Sharma scored four goals apiece, while Sushmita Bardhan struck twice and Jabamani Tudu and Premi Chiru found the net once each as India toyed UAE at the Bangabandhu Stadium.
With this massive win, India have catapulted to the second spot from fourth in Group B with six points from three matches.
Iran, who consolidated their place at the top of the heap after beating Jordan 6-1, now have nine points from three matches with Bangladesh (6 points) third followed by Jordan in fourth place (3 points) and out-of-contention UAE rooted to the bottom.
Coming to the match, it was so lopsided that goalkeeper Linthoingambi Devi - playing her first game - shook more hands that had touches on the ball and her counterpart Dalal Abdulla made more passes than any of her teammates before the break.
India took barely three minutes to break the deadlock when West Bengal's Sushmita displayed deft touch to go past the keeper from a one-on-one situation.
Four minutes later, Premi drifted into the right-berth and dribbled past two defenders to sidestep the keeper and smash in a low shot at the near post.
The next goal came after 17 minutes but had Premi, Kashmina and Sushmita converted their chances in that span the scoreline could have been much bigger.
Roja bagged her third goal of the competition with a drive from the edge of the box which showed goalkeeper Dalal in very poor light.
Jabamani hit the crosspiece two minutes from the break as India closed the half knowing it could easily have been 7-0 at halftime.
In between such flood of goalmouth action, Lifa Gama was replaced by Daya Devi one minute before the interval while Scindia Saundatikar made her first appearance in place of Srijana.
India atoned for their spurned efforts post the break, and in record breaking style.
In the next 45 minutes, the girls in blue plundered nine goals to create a record of the highest number of goals scored in a single match at the Bangabandhu Stadium.
India will next play Jordan on Thursday.