Pokhara witnessed a football masterclass as India’s Under-17 girls’ team obliterated Bhutan 8-0 in their latest SAFF Under-19 Women’s Championship encounter. The win propels India into the final against Bangladesh on February 7, capping a flawless round-robin campaign.
Star performer Pearl Fernandes notched a hat-trick, supported by Pritika Barman’s two goals. Alisha Lyngdoh, Abhista Basnet, and Divyani Linda rounded out the scorers in this dominant performance. From whistle to whistle, India’s young stars dictated play with precision and flair.
The game exploded into life early when Alisha Lyngdoh rifled in a beauty from distance in the sixth minute. Abhista Basnet wasted no time, converting Pritika’s assist to extend the advantage. Pearl Fernandes orchestrated the midfield, scoring off a clever through ball before Divyani Linda tapped in the fourth.
Pritika’s angled drive from the right made it five, and Pearl’s relentless pressure yielded two more before halftime, her hat-trick complete at 7-0. In the second half, fresh legs kept the momentum alive. India peppered the goal, striking the post twice, until Pritika’s late strike confirmed the 8-0 triumph. Her all-around brilliance earned her the Player of the Match honors.
India now boasts six points from three matches, second behind Bangladesh’s nine. The Tigers had paved India’s final path by defeating Nepal 4-0 earlier. Nepal lingers in third with three points; Bhutan departs empty-handed.
This tournament serves as vital groundwork for India’s Under-17 team ahead of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in China, where such form could herald greater successes.
