Women's Football
U-16 Girls edge past Northern Mariana Islands 4-1
03 Sep 2016

By Joseph Solomon,

AIFF Media Team

WEI FANG (CHINA): The Indian U-16 Women’s National Team thumped Northern Mariana Islands 4-1 in the AFC U-16 Qualifiers at the Luneng Football Stadium in Wei Fang, China today (September 03, 2016).

A brace by Soumya and strikes from Renu and Karishma aided the Indian girls to grab their second win of the Qualifiers, after Northern Mariana Islands had pulled one goal back in the first half.

The Indian girls took some time to get off the blocks and despite keeping possession; the necessary penetration of the Mariana defence went missing. In the 10th minute however, Soumya missed a sitter from inside of the box after Renu had tee-d her up.

It was Soumya again, six minutes later, who gave India the lead after she sped past three defenders and quite skilfully poked the ball home from below the onrushing opponent custodian to give India a solitary goal lead.

In the 24th minute, the Indian girls doubled their lead as Renu’s shot from a narrow angle from outside of the box rattled the woodwork and went in, leaving the opposition custodian in total bewilderment as the scoreline read 2-0 in India’s favour.

The Indian girls however, fell prey to complacency and in the 34th minute Northern Mariana Islands halved their deficit when Coleman Borja found the Indian net. Immediately after, Soumya failed to put her laces through a shot after she was found clear of the defensive mix by a Bannya through ball.

Despite dominating possession and maintaining constant pressure on the Northern Mariana Island defence, the Indian girls had less gloss to flaunt at half-time as the scoreline read 2-1 in India’s favour.

Changing over, the Indian girls tried to add to the goal scoring tally but kept were kept at bay by the Northern Mariana defence. In the 50th minute, Bannya’s cross from the right flank flashed infront of the goal, had Soumya made contact with the cross, it would have been a certain goal.

In the 67th minute, Soumya was once again found by Bannya’s through ball, but this time the former did little wrong and hammered the ball home from outside of the box to double India’s lead as the scoreline read 3-1.

In the dying embers of the match, Karishma converted from the spot after Soumya was brought down inside the box to triple India’s lead.

The Indian Girls dominated possession but failed to add more to the goal scoring tally, despite fostering numerous goal scoring chances and at the full-time the scoreline read 4-1 in India’s favour.

The Indian U-16 Girls face Korea Republic next on September 05, 2016 in their final match of the AFC U-16 Qualifiers.

India’s starting XI against Northern Mariana Islands: Monika Devi (GK); Santi Murmu (C), Janaki Devi, Laxmi Kumari, Samiksha; Grace Lalrampari (80’ – Offee Lalhmingchhuapui), Bannya Kabiraj, Sanathokpi Devi, Bhaghayshree Dalvi (57’ – Karishma), Soumya Guguloth, Renu (54’ – Bawtilung Vanlalhriattiri).  

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