India complete a Maldives massacre in FIFA Women's Friendly
India's Women's Football Team Triumphs 14-0 Against Maldives
New Coach Joakim Alexandersson's Successful Debut
The Indian women's football team, known as the Blue Tigresses, achieved a remarkable victory against the Maldives, winning 14-0 at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru. This match marked the debut of India's new Swedish coach, Joakim Alexandersson, and was the first of two friendly matches against the Maldives, with the second scheduled for January 2, 2025.
Outstanding Performances and Debuts
India led 8-0 at halftime, with eight players making their debut. Pyari Xaxa and Lynda Kom Serto were standout performers, scoring three and four goals respectively. Other goal scorers included Neha and Kajol Dsouza with two goals each, and Sangita Basfore, Sorokhaibam Ranjana Chanu, and Rimpa Haldar with one goal each.
Match Highlights
The scoring began in the seventh minute with Pyari Xaxa's volley, followed by her second goal a minute later. Lynda Kom scored her first goal in the 12th minute, and Pyari completed her hat-trick in the 15th minute. Neha scored her first goal in the 16th minute and assisted Lynda's second goal in the 21st minute. Lynda completed her hat-trick before the half-hour mark, and Neha added an eighth goal before halftime.
In the second half, Sangita Basfore scored the ninth goal, and Lynda Kom added her fourth. Ranjana Chanu, Kajol Dsouza, and Rimpa Haldar also contributed to the scoreline. The team focused on maintaining possession and experimenting with new strategies in the final quarter.
Team Lineup
| Player | Position |
|---|---|
| Maibam Linthoingambi Devi | Goalkeeper |
| Sangita Basfore | Midfielder |
| Sanju | Midfielder |
| Lynda Kom Serto | Forward |
| Pyari Xaxa | Forward |
| Grace Dangmei | Captain |
| Nitu Linda | Midfielder |
| Sorokhaibam Ranjana Chanu | Defender |
| Juli Kishan | Midfielder |
| Aruna Bag | Defender |
| Neha | Forward |
Doubts Revealed
Blue Tigresses
The Blue Tigresses is the nickname for India's women's national football team. Just like how the Indian men's cricket team is called the 'Men in Blue', the women's football team is called the Blue Tigresses.
Maldives
The Maldives is a small island country located in the Indian Ocean, known for its beautiful beaches and resorts. In this context, it refers to the women's football team from the Maldives.
Joakim Alexandersson
Joakim Alexandersson is a Swedish coach who has recently started coaching the Indian women's football team. Coaches help teams plan strategies and improve their skills.
Debutants
Debutants are players who are playing their first match for a team. In this match, eight players played for the Indian team for the first time.
Hat-tricks
A hat-trick in football means a player scores three goals in a single match. In this game, Pyari Xaxa and Lynda Kom Serto each scored three goals.
Bengaluru
Bengaluru is a city in India, also known as Bangalore. It is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka and is known for its technology industry.
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