Shillong, Aug 27: A ruthless India demolished Bhutan 5-0 in their fourth match of the SAFF U-17 Women’s Championship 2025 at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu on Wednesday.
This was the second meeting between the two sides in the space of four days, the first ending in a commanding 8-0 victory for India.
Anushka Kumari, who netted a hat-trick in the last game, picked up where she left off, netting twice more today and assisting the fifth, taking her personal tally to seven goals in the tournament so far to lead the golden boot race. The other goals were scored by Shveta Rani (24’), Julan Nongmaithem (77’) and Nira Chanu Longjam (90+5’).
With this emphatic win, India made it four wins from as many matches, scoring 22 goals without conceding any, and tightening their grip at the summit of the table. India now sit atop the group with 12 points ahead of second-placed Bangladesh, who are on 9 points, followed by Nepal on 3, while Bhutan are yet to score a point.
In this match, Meghalaya’s Alisha Lyngdoh made it into the starting lineup as she has in each of the other matches but was substituted at half time. Bonifilia Shullai, who has usually been used off the bench in the second half (though she started against Bhutan the last time out) came onto the pitch at the end of the half time break.
India’s next match will be against Nepal on Friday at 5:30PM India time.
(All India Football Federation photo. Alisha Lyngdoh is pictured wearing No. 19)
