Bengaluru, Dec 30 || India’s newly-appointed Swedish coach, Joakim Alexandersson, began his journey on a more than satisfactory note as the Blue Tigresses ended the year with a brilliant demolition of the Maldives, winning 14-0 at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence on Monday.
It was the first of the two friendly matches scheduled against the Maldives. The second will be played at the same venue on January 2, 2025. India led 8-0 at half time.
Alexandersson handed over debuts to as many as eight players, three of whom excelled in attack, scoring eight of India's goals in the game.
While seasoned campaigner Pyari Xaxa and debutant Lynda Kom Serto finished with hat-tricks, scoring three and four goals, respectively, Neha and Kajol Dsouza (two each), Sangita Basfore, Sorokhaibam Ranjana Chanu and Rimpa Haldar accounted for one goal each.
It was one of the Blue Tigresses’ biggest-ever victory margins in international football. In 2010, India defeated Bhutan 18-0 in the SAFF Championship in Bangladesh.
The rout started early in the seventh minute, with Pyari Xaxa brilliantly volleying in Lynda Kom's cross from the right to score India's opener. A minute later the Odisha forward had doubled the score, slamming the ball in after Maldives goalkeeper Aminath Leeza had parried away Sangita Basfore's long range attempt.