India Dominates Nepal 8-1 in SAFF Women's Futsal Championship
India's Impressive Victory
In a stunning display, the Indian women's futsal team secured an 8-1 victory over Nepal during the SAFF Women's Futsal Championship 2026 held at Nonthaburi Stadium in Thailand on Saturday, according to the AIFF.
Diti Kanungo was the star of the match, netting four goals in the first half at 4', 4', 13', and 15'. Ritika Singh contributed with two goals at 22' and 37', while Nishka Prakash (8') and Khushbu Saroj (24') each added to the scoreline. Manisha Thapa Magar (8') was the sole scorer for Nepal.
India's Early Onslaught
Currently, India tops the group with six points from three matches, while Bangladesh and Pakistan follow closely with four points each but have a game in hand. After a recent 1-3 loss to Bangladesh, India employed an aggressive strategy, positioning their players near the opponent's goalkeeper, which proved effective early on.
Diti's proximity to the Nepal goalkeeper created chaos, allowing her to score the opening goal in the 4th minute by back-heeling a shot from Arya More. Just moments later, Ritika's long-range shot was deflected by Diti, doubling India's lead.
Nepal struggled to recover from this early barrage, managing only a few counter-attacks that were effectively neutralized by the Indian defense. Nishka showcased her skills by orchestrating a play that led to her scoring into an empty net after a one-two with Sonali Mondal.
Defensive Highlights
Manisha managed to get past her defender and took a shot that found the back of the net, but Indian goalkeeper Aiswarya Arumugam quickly redeemed herself with a crucial save against Manisha's next attempt.
The Futsal Tigresses regained control as Ritika delivered a precise pass to Diti, who scored with a single touch in the 13th minute. Shortly after, Khushbu's low cross found Diti unmarked at the far post, allowing her to score again.
Second Half Sees India Seal Victory
India maintained their momentum in the second half, scoring right after the restart. Diti assisted Ritika, who finished expertly at the near post. Ritika then set up Khushbu for India's seventh goal, putting the team firmly in control.
Nishka nearly added to the tally but was denied by the woodwork from outside the penalty area.
With six minutes remaining, Nepal opted for a power play to exploit their numerical advantage. However, this strategy backfired, giving India opportunities for long-range shots at an open goal. Substitute goalkeeper Tanvi Mavani attempted a volley from her penalty area, but Nepal's captain Dipa Rai managed to clear it off the line. Ritika also had a chance from inside India's half, but her shot was blocked.
Ritika capped off the scoring in the 37th minute when a blocked shot by Nepal's Sushma Tamang inadvertently created an open goal. Ritika seized the opportunity, scoring the final goal of the match, leading India to their second victory in the tournament.