SAFF Women's Championship 2022: India Crush Arch-Rivals Pakistan 3-0

Five-time SAFF Women's Championship India had put themselves in the top right from the get-go. Pakistan, on the other hand, was quite defensive in its approach and relied on counterattacks.

India vs Pakistan SAFF Women's Championship 2022: Indian women's football team, the defending champions, kicked off its SAFF Women's Championship campaign with a win over arch-nemesis Pakistan. India attained an empathic 3-0 win over arch-rivals Pakistan in their first SAFF Women's Championship 2022 Group A opener at the Dashrath Rangshala Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal on Wednesday. Notably, Pakistan women's football team were playing their first international match in 8 years after a long FIFA suspension.

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Five-time SAFF Women's Champion India had put themselves in the top right from the get-go. Pakistan, on the other hand, were quite defensive in its approach and relied on counterattacks.

Pakistan women's football team skipper Maria Jamila Khan scored an own goal in the 21st minute to give India a 1-0 lead. Shortly after, Indian forward Dangmei Grace doubled India's lead by scoring a goal in the 23rd minute. A late strike from Soumya Guguloth (94th minute) in the last minute of extra time increased India's winning margin to 3-0.

In the 20th minute, midfielder Ranganathan sent in a cross to Dangmei Grace from the left that was parried by Pakistan keeper SM Bukhari, as it took a touch off defender Maria Khan to roll into the net for a goal. With this, India took a 1-0 lead.

Two minutes later, a fine pass to Dangmei Grace from midfielder Anju Tamang was converted into a goal to make India's lead 2-0. India maintained a 2-0 lead till half time. Pakistan made many counter-attacks in the second half to stage a fightback but their efforts went in vain as they failed to score. India, the clear and obvious favourites, eventually scored their third goal in the fourth minute of extra time. The match ended with India beating Pakistan 3-0.

India's next match is slated to take place against Maldives on Friday and then Bangladesh on 13th September. The top two teams from the group will qualify for the semi-finals.