Indian football team beats Mongolia 13-0 in Group B opener

The Indian women’s football team, 70th in the FIFA world rankings, imposed itself on the match early with Basfore opening the scoring, when she nodded in a Soumya cross from close range.

The latter doubled India’s lead in an emphatic manner, when she produced a powerful volley off Rimpa’s cross, which pinged off the upright and went in.

Pyari scored two more before half-time, first scoring off a cut-back from Soumya, before producing a powerful long-range effort that rifled into the top corner. India led world No. 126 Mongolia 4-0 at half-time.

The Blue Tigresses roared off the blocks in the second half too, as Pyari volleyed in a Grace Dangmei cross to complete her hat-trick.

The Indian striker added two more within the 55th minute, taking her tally up to five goals in the match.

After Soumya capitalised on a goalkeeping error to score India’s eighth, the Blue Tigresses’ coach Crispin Chettri decided to make a few changes, introducing centre-back Purnima Kumari, Priyadharshini and Malavika into the fray.

Later, Ranjana Chanu and goalkeeper Monalisha Devi were also given opportunities to get some game time.

Rimpa, Malavika, and Priyadharshini added a goal each in close succession as India hit double digits before a Grace Dangmei penalty took India to 12.

With the clock ticking down, Priyadharshini scored her second and India’s 13th to round off a big win.

The Indian team will face off against Timor Leste in its next AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers Group B match on Sunday.

After single-legged round robin matches, the group winner will qualify for the 12-team AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, which is slated to be held in Australia from March 1 to 26.

Thailand and Iraq are the other two teams in India’s group.

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