India Thrashes Maldives 14-0 in Record-Breaking Victory Under New Coach Joakim Alexandersson
India’s women’s football team kicked off their journey under new Swedish coach Joakim Alexandersson with a resounding 14-0 victory over the Maldives on Monday at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence. This friendly match marked one of the Blue Tigresses’ largest-ever victory margins in international football, second only to their 18-0 win over Bhutan in the 2010 SAFF Championship.
The match saw eight players debut for India, with three of them shining in attack and contributing eight goals. Lynda Kom Serto, one of the debutants, delivered an outstanding performance with four goals, including a first-half hat-trick. Veteran Pyari Xaxa added three goals of her own, while Neha and Kajol Dsouza scored two each. Sangita Basfore, Sorokhaibam Ranjana Chanu, and Rimpa Haldar also joined the scoring spree with one goal each.
India wasted no time, taking the lead in the 7th minute when Pyari Xaxa volleyed in a cross from Lynda Kom. A minute later, Pyari doubled the score, converting a rebound from Sangita Basfore’s long-range effort. Lynda Kom quickly got on the scoresheet in the 12th minute, courtesy of Pyari’s assist, and the Odisha forward completed her hat-trick just three minutes later from a corner.
Debutant Neha opened her account in the 16th minute with a sharp angled shot and assisted Lynda Kom for her second goal in the 21st minute. Lynda completed her hat-trick before the half-hour mark, while Neha added the eighth goal right before halftime, sealing a dominant first half for India.
The onslaught resumed in the second half, with Sangita Basfore scoring in the 51st minute and assisting Lynda Kom’s fourth goal shortly after. Defender Ranjana Chanu curled in a spectacular effort in the 54th minute, and substitute Kajol Dsouza showcased her brilliance with two goals (59’, 66’), including a stunning solo effort. Rimpa Haldar also found the back of the net in the 62nd minute, rounding off the scoring.
India eased off in the final quarter, focusing on possession and experimenting with midfield combinations, but the damage had already been done. The Blue Tigresses will face the Maldives again on Thursday, aiming to carry forward the momentum from this historic win.
