India Tramples Maldives 14-0 in FIFA Women's Friendly Match

Bengaluru, Dec 30 (NationPress) India’s newly-appointed Swedish coach, Joakim Alexandersson, commenced his journey on an exceptionally positive note as the Blue Tigresses concluded the year by delivering an impressive defeat to the Maldives, securing a staggering 14-0 victory at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence on Monday.

This match marked the first of two friendly encounters scheduled against the Maldives, with the second set to take place at the same venue on January 2, 2025. India dominated the first half, leading 8-0.

Alexandersson provided debuts to eight players, three of whom shone in attack, contributing eight goals to India’s total.

Veteran player Pyari Xaxa and debutant Lynda Kom Serto both achieved hat-tricks, netting three and four goals, respectively. Additionally, Neha and Kajol Dsouza each contributed two goals, while Sangita Basfore, Sorokhaibam Ranjana Chanu, and Rimpa Haldar scored one goal each.

This victory stands as one of the largest margins in the history of the Blue Tigresses in international football. Previously, India had defeated Bhutan 18-0 during the SAFF Championship in Bangladesh in 2010.

The onslaught commenced early, with Pyari Xaxa expertly volleying in Lynda Kom's cross from the right to score the opening goal in the seventh minute. A minute later, the Odisha forward doubled the score by slamming the ball into the net after Maldives goalkeeper Aminath Leeza had deflected Sangita Basfore's long-range shot.

Pyari then turned provider in the 12th minute, setting up debutant Lynda Kom for a goal, and in the 15th minute, she completed her hat-trick by heading in a corner kick delivered by skipper Dangmei Grace. Another debutant, Neha, secured her first goal for the Blue Tigresses in the 16th minute, capitalizing on a spilled shot by the goalkeeper. Neha also provided an exceptional assist, delivering a precise cross that split the Maldives defense, allowing Lynda to score her second goal in the 21st minute.

By the time Lynda completed her hat-trick just before the half-hour mark, the Maldives appeared overwhelmed, but the scoring continued. Neha added an eighth goal right at the end of the half, concluding a commanding first period.

The barrage persisted in the second half, as Sangita Basfore added a ninth goal within six minutes of the restart, followed by Lynda Kom’s fourth goal, pushing India’s tally into double digits.

Defender Ranjana Chanu joined the scoring with a stunning right-footed curler from outside the box in the 54th minute. Kajol Dsouza, introduced as a substitute, scored two spectacular goals (59', 66'), showcasing remarkable skill and technique in her second goal. Substitute Rimpa Halder also found the net between Dsouza's strikes in the 62nd minute.

For the Maldives, the final whistle was long-awaited, and to the credit of the Blue Tigresses, they eased off the scoring in the last quarter of the match, opting to maintain possession and explore new play patterns in midfield.

For Alexandersson, the experimentation with the team yielded outstanding results, providing an ideal conclusion to the year.