Indian football team beats Timor-Leste 4-0

The Indian football team registered back-to-back wins in their AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers Group B after a 4-0 victory against Timor-Leste at the 700th Anniversary of Chiang Mai Stadium in Thailand on Sunday.

Winger Manisha Kalyan (12’, 80’) scored a brace, while Anju Tamang (58’) and Lynda Kom Serto (86’) also got on the scoresheet.

With the win, India currently sit atop Group B in the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers with six points from two games ahead of Iraq and Thailand.

Fresh from their biggest ever-win in an AFC Women’s Asian Cup match after beating Mongolia 13-0 in their opening fixture, India picked up where they left off by applying pressure high up the pitch and creating opportunities with slick passing and energetic wing play.

The first chance came as early as the sixth minute when Tamang latched onto a through ball, but Timor-Leste’s goalkeeper Gorette Da Costa did well to deny her at the near post.

The breakthrough arrived soon after in the 12th minute after a slick one-two between Manisha and Tamang carved open Timor-Leste’s left flank.

Tamang threaded a perfectly weighted pass into Manisha’s path for the forward to burst past her marker with blistering pace before cutting inside and unleashing a thunderous left-footed finish into the back of the net.

Pyari Xaxa nearly made it 2-0 in the 17th minute, but her curling shot rattled the woodwork. Moments later, Soumya Guguloth once again tested Da Costa, who stood firm despite the relentless Indian pressure as the first half ended with India leading 1-0.

India doubled their lead 13 minutes into the second period when Sanju’s teasing cross from the left caused chaos in the Timor-Leste box. Goalkeeper Da Costa misjudged the flight of the delivery and Tamang capitalised, tapping in from close range to extend India’s advantage.

Manisha then produced a moment of sheer class in the 80th minute. Tamang, who had been involved in much of India’s attacking play, slipped a clever pass to the edge of the box for Manisha to take one touch before blasting a thunderous shot past Da Costa to make it 3-0.

India’s fourth goal came in the 86th minute when substitutes Lynda Kom and Grace Dangmei combined beautifully in midfield to split the Timor-Leste defence.

Grace drove into the box, drew defenders towards her and unselfishly squared the ball to Lynda, who calmly slotted home with time and space to spare.

India will face Iraq in their next AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers Group B match on Wednesday.

After single-legged round robin football matches, the group winner will qualify for the 12-team AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, which is slated to be held in Australia in March.

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