Shillong, Feb 4: Meghalaya’s Alisha Lyngdoh scored once in India’s comprehensive 8-0 victory against Bhutan in the SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship 2026 in Pokhara, Nepal, today.
Pearl Fernandes (16’, 39’, 41’) scored a first half hat-trick, while Pritika Barman (25’, 90’) got one goal in each half. Alisha (6’), Abhista Basnett (10’), and Divyani Linda (17’) netted one apiece.
The Young Tigresses have, with this result, secured themselves a spot in the final, after Bangladesh defeated hosts Nepal 4-0 in the second match of Wednesday. India finished second in the table with 6 points from three matches, 3 behind leaders Bangladesh. The hosts were third with 3 points, while Bhutan have none.
The top two teams, India and Bangladesh, will now cross swords in the final on Saturday at 1:45PM India time. The match will be streamed live on Sportzworkz YouTube channel. India had lost to Bangladesh in the round robin stage.
The Indian U-17 women’s team are participating in the higher age-group SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship as part of their preparations for the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026.
Alisha put India ahead in the sixth minute with a well-placed half-volley from outside the box, which was just out of Bhutan goalkeeper Sonam Choden’s reach.
The lead was doubled by Abhista just a few minutes later, when Pritika, who was set free on the right, cut one back for the former to tap in.
Just beyond the quarter-hour mark, Thandamoni Baskey released Pearl through a slick through-pass that put the latter behind a Bhutan defence that was trying to hold a high line. Pearl beat Sonam with ease to score India’s third. A minute later, Divyani made it four when she surged forward from the right and slotted it in at the near post.
India goalkeeper Munni barely had a touch of the ball, bar one moment of worry. Under pressure, Alena Devi Sarangthem passed it back to Munni, who found it difficult to control a bouncing ball on an uneven surface. The ball bounced off her leg and headed towards the goal, but the India goalkeeper quickly got back to prevent it from rolling into her own net.
Pritika scored the fifth in the 25th minute when she entered the Nepal box from the right and netted at the far post. In the 38th minute, Pritika turned provider, supplying a low cross to Pearl, who scored into a gaping net.
A couple of minutes later, Pearl completed her hat-trick, tapping the ball in from close range after a set-piece caused some confusion in the Bhutan box.
India coach Pamela Conti, who had already brought on midfielder Shveta Rani in place of centre-back Elizabed Lakra, completed her quota of substitutions at half time itself, introducing forward Valaina Fernandes, right-back Binita Horo, midfielder Redima Devi Chingkhamayum, and handing a debut to centre-back Joyshini Chanu Huidrom.
Buoyed by the changes, India began with a fast tempo, orchestrating attacks in the Bhutan third. However, Redima struck the upright in the first minute of the resumption. The woodwork was disturbed once again when Pritika was freed down the right. She laced it upon entering the box, but it hit the crossbar.
Pritika had a few more opportunities when she was released down the right and had just the goalkeeper to beat. However, she slipped it wide on the hour mark, while she waited too long in the 72nd, before being dispossessed.
The Young Tigresses’ forward would finally go on to get her second goal in the 90th minute, when Redima set her through, as she jinked past the goalkeeper to finish into an empty net. Pritika was named the Player of the Match.
(All India Football Federation photo)
