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China PR vs Haiti FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Highlights | 10 women China defeated Haiti 1-0 and eliminated them from the World Cup

China defeated Haiti in a thrilling encounter by 1-0 deficit, which came from a penalty kick and eliminated Haiti from the World Cup.

Jul 28, 2023, 10:08 AM9 min read

China PR vs Haiti FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Highlights | 10 women China defeated Haiti 1-0 and eliminated them from the World Cup

China (PR) vs Haiti at The FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 was a thrilling encounter till the very end where the Chinease team came out on top of the debutants and eliminated them from the group stages of the World Cup. China were down to 10 women in the first half but their resilience won them this game. Haiti were unlucky at times, specially in the last minutes of the game where they should've been awarded a penalty but it doesn't matter now as they're going out of the World Cups now.

Facts to look forward to :

  • From seven global finals, China have never failed to make it out of the group stage. 
  • China's defeat to Denmark means the nation have now lost their last three opening-day fixtures 1-0. At Canada 2015 and France 2019, they won the subsequent fixture by the same scoreline.
  • Women's World Cup debutants Haiti have the youngest squad in the 2023 finals with an average age of 22.3 (at the start of the tournament). They had four teenagers in their starting XI in their opening match against England.
  • Les Grenadieres are one of eight debutants at these global finals.

Match Information

Date : 28 July, 2023

Venue : Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, Australia

Time : 9 pm Local Time and 4:30 pm IST

Officials

Referee : Marta Huerta

Assistant Referee 1: Guadalupe Porras

Assistant Referee 2 : Sanja Rodak

4th Official : Marianela Araya

VAR : Alejandro Hernandez

Assistant VAR 1 : Juan Martinez

Assistant VAR 2 : Mariana De Almeida

China PR vs Haiti | Live Score CHN 1-0 HAI

Kick off at 4:30 pm IST

First Half Begins!

China kicking from left to right in the first half and Haiti all in white, starts the game.

01'| Good start by China

Chinese players were venturing forward in the opening minutes of the game.

04'| China controlling the game

China's controlling the rythem of the match in the opening parts of the game and enjoying some possession.

06'| Corner conceded by Haiti

Haiti defender stopped the ball from troubling the goalkeeper and conceded a corner.

08'| Position start by China

Haiti's struggling to get out if their own half, such is the pressure by China.

13'| Good defending by Louis

Kethna Louis stopped the attack by a brilliant piece of composed defending.

15'| First attempt on target by China

Lou Jiahui's effort on target was stopped quite comparably by the goalkeeper as there was no power in the shot.

19'| Haiti enjoying some possession

Haiti after some minutes have been able to get hold of the ball and is enjoying a little spell.

20'| Poor back pass

Tabita Joseph's poor back pass could've been converted into a goal scoring opportunity but the goalkeeper was alert.

22'| Free kick conceded by Haiti

Zhang Linyan won a free kick in a dangerous position, just under range to give it a go.

28'| Yellow card for Rui(VAR)

Zhang Rui made a poor tackle on Sherly Jeudy and picked up a yellow card. But referee is taking a look if it was a red card offence.

29'| Red card for Rui

Yellow card evoked and Zhang Rui was provided with a straight red card for the nasty challenge on Jeudy, China down to 10 women.

35'| End to end football

Haiti is trying to take advantage of China's disability of playing with 10 players but there's no change in China's intensity to attack.

37'| Substitution for China

Zhang Xin replaces Lou Jiahui.

41'| Haiti on the attack

Haiti is enjoying a nice spell of attack of through nice passing football.

42'| Goal for Haiti but Offside

Nerilla Mondesir was caught Offside when Batcheba Louis played the ball and the goal didn't stand.

3 added minutes announced

45'| Half time CHN 0-0 HAI

The first half looked like a equally contested match with China dominated the early parts of the game and Haiti taking control of the match in the later parts. Both the teams had their chances but they were not very convincing.

China in the opening stages spent most of the time in Haiti's half but Haiti's defence looked solid and they dealt with every Chinease attack they faced. Most of China's play were initiated from the flanks but their cross were not at all troubling for Kethna Louis and Tabita Joseph.

Then came a moment which changed the momentum of the game in Haiti's favour. Zhang Rui was sent off by the referee for making a robust challenge on Sherly Jeudy. Initially it was given a yellow card but then VAR checked it for a possible Red, and referee changed her decision and gave the the Chinease midfielder a red Card.

From then onwards Haiti enjoyed most of the ball, with even scoring a goal from open play but it was doomed as Offside. It was an easy choice for the Assistant referee. Haiti looked more composed in the field but couldn't find a way through China's defence.

China did make a first half substitute, sacrificing the winger, Lou Jiahui presence for Zhang Xin in order to strengthen the defence. Batcheba Louis was easily one of the best players on the field today and there were moments of great skill showcasing from her side.

Second Half Begins

How's gonna come out on top, Chinease's 10 women or Haiti's ambitious players?

45'| Substitution for Haiti

Melchie Dumornay replaces Maudeline Moryl

45'| Substitution for China

Wang Shuang replaces Wu Chengshu.

47'| Good start by Haiti

Melchie Dumornay, the substitute is looking to orchestrate the match from the middle of the pitch.

52'| Save by Yu

Chinease goalkeeper, Zhu Yu pulled off a fine save off Melchie Dumornay's shot and kept China in the game, conceding a corner.

58'| End to end football

Both the teams are trying really hard to score the first goal of the match and break the deadlock.

60'| Array of attacks by Haiti

Haiti players are coming forward with sheer intent of scoring goals but China somehow survives and concedes a corner.

Nerilla Mondesir's right footed cross from right side of the field was stopped by the Chinese defender.

63'| Yellow card for Dumornay

Melchie Dumornay's acrobatic attemot of scoring a goal following a corner hit the a Chinease player m, unintentionally and was given a yellow card.

64'| Substitution for Haiti

Roseline Eloissaint replaces Batcheba Louis.

68'| Another chance for Haiti

Melchie Dumornay's attempt was blocked in front of the goal and it's still 0-0.

71'| Shout for penalty but Offside (VAR)

Zhang Linyan ventured forward and earned a penalty for her team but it was given Offside by the Assistant referee, VAR is checking though.

71'| Penalty for China

After VAR check it was given a penalty because Zhang Linyan was onside.

74'| Shuang scores from the spot kick!(CHN 1-0 HAI)

Wang Shuang scored the first goal of the match through a cool and composed penalty and China in the lead.

78'| Another chance for China

Zhang Linyan's header from very short range missed the target by some distance and the score stays 1-0 in China's favour.

81'| Substitution for Haiti

Chelsea Surpris replaces Ruthny Mathurin.

82'| Substitution for China

Dou Jiaxing replaces Yao Lingwei.

84'| China on the counter

Zhang Linyan's left footed shot was saved by the keeper as it was hit straight to her.

87'| Substitution for Haiti

Tang Jiali replaces Zhang Linyan.

89'| Substitution for Haiti

Kiki replaces Sherly Jeudy.

9 minutes of added time announced

90'+1| Penalty for Haiti(VAR)

Referee awarded Haiti a penalty in the additional minutes of the game, VAR is checking though.

90'+2| No penalty for Haiti

After VAR interference Penalty was revoked from Haiti by the referee and it looks like China is gonna win the match.

90'+6| Chance missed by Haiti

Nerillia Mondesir's right footed shot from a tight angle missed the target by not much.

90'+9| Very clumsy challenge by Jiaxing

Dou Jiaxing came up with a clumsy challenge to stop Haiti from scoring inside the penalty box in the last minutes of the game but no penalty was given and VAR has also not interfered.

Match Ended

90'| Full time CHN 1-0 HAI

The second half was full of drama specially in the last minutes of the game. Haiti saw most of the ball and had the better chances but it was China who came up victorious of the match with just one goal which came through a penalty.

Haiti dominated the game in the opening minutes of the second half. They clearly experienced the best spell of their match there but unfortunately couldn't break the deadlock at that time.

Zhu Yu made the best save of the match against Melchie Dumornay's powerful right footed strike and denied Haiti the lead. Melchie Dumornay was the driving force behind Haiti's attack and was gutted for not scoring.

Around 70th minute of the match China ventured forward in the opposition's box and Zhang Linyan was fouled inside the penalty box but the initial decision was offside so the penalty was not given. Then the VAR interfered and found out that it was not an offside so the penalty was awarded.

Wang Shuang took the penalty and scored it in a very composed manner, sending the keeper in the wrong direction and gave China the mist needed lead in the match. China played with 10 women for most of the match so it was paradise for them, and no one expected them to score against the run of play.

After that, no real chance was created by the Haitian players, they did go forward a couple of times but their attacks were not as convincing as they needed to be. Both the coaches made some important substitutions to control the game in their favour but it was mostly attack against defence in the last stages of the match.

After the additional time Dou Jiaxing made a very questionable challenge for winning the ball and fouled a Haitian forward in the process making no contact with the ball whatsoever, but VAR didn't even check it despite shouts from all of Haitian team and the game ended on 1-0 in China's favour.

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Best 10 Women's Footballers in the World Right Now

Who are the best 10 women's footballers in the world right now making an impact globally? Find out who makes their way to the list with Aitana Bonmati topping the chart.

May 4, 2025, 3:35 PM8 min read

Best 10 Women's Footballers in the World Right Now | sportzpoint.com

Football knows no gender, and the talented women are proving that with their breathtaking gameplay. The world of women's football is setting new standards which has made it difficult to pick the best ones.

Based on the current landscape of the sport, check out the best 10 women's footballers in the world right now.

10. Lauren James 

Lauren James is one of the best 10 women's footballers in the world right now | sportzpoint.com
Lauren James celebrating her goal in a match against Aston Villa in 2022. Image | Pinterest 
  • National Team: England
  • Club: Chelsea
  • Position: Forward
  • Goals: 65

Lauren James is an English footballer who plays as a forward for Chelsea in the WSL. She has won the PFA Women's Young Player of the Year award in 2022-23 for her exceptional skills at a young age.

She previously played for Arsenal and Manchester United and switched to Chelsea in 2021. She has scored a total of 58 goals in 155 appearances across all clubs.

Lauren plays a major role in the England women's team, having 7 international goals in 27 appearances for England.

Read Also | Chelsea Women sign Naomi Girma for a world-record transfer fee

9. Klara Bühl

Klara Bühl is one of the best 10 women's footballers in the world right now | sportzpoint.com
Klara Bühl adding a goal to their victory of 6-0 against Morocco in FIFA World Cup 2023. Image | Pinterest 
  • National Team: Germany
  • Club: Bayern Munich
  • Position: Forward 
  • Goals: 92

Klara Bühl is a professional german player who plays as left winger or forward. She is 17 year old and is considered as one of the best young wingers in Europe.

She was a part of SC Freiburg for four years before joining FC Bayern Munich in 2020. Klara has scored 65 goals in 230 appearances for clubs, and 27 international goals in 65 appearances for Germany.

Read Also: 10 Best Women's Football Players and Leagues You Must Watch in 2025

8. Salma Paralluelo

Salma Paralluelo is one of the best 10 women's footballers in the world right now | sportzpoint.com
Salma Paralluelo after scoring a goal Atlético de Madrid Femenino in 2024. Image | Instagram 
  • National Team: Spain
  • Club: FC Barcelona
  • Position: Forward
  • Goals: 99

The Spanish left winger, Salma Paralluelo, is a born champion, with all three 3 World Cups to her name. She started her career as a sprinter and holds several records in the categories of under 16 and 18.

Salma won the FIFA Women's World Cup with the Spanish senior team in 2023, the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2020, and FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2018. She also won the U-17 UEFA U-17 Women's Championship in 2018.

Salma has scored 85 goals in 125 club appearances and 14 goals in 35 appearances for Spain.

Read Also | Sarina Wiegman dedicates Uefa Women's Coach of the Year award to Spain players

7. Linda Caicedo

Linda Caicedo is one of the best 10 women's footballers in the world right now I sportzpoint.com
Linda Caicedo after scoring a goal against Germany in FIFA Women's World Cup 2023. Image | FIFPro
  • National Team: Colombia
  • Club: Real Madrid 
  • Position: Forward
  • Goals: 46

Linda Caicedo is a Colombian footballer who has reached commendable milestones at a young age of 20. She plays as a forward for Real Madrid, and has been associated with football legends like Lionel Messi, Jude Bellingham, Trinity Rodman for commercial ad campaigns.

She played for América Cali and Deportivo Cali before joining Real Madrid, and scored a total of 33 goals in 92 appearances across all of them.

Linda has scored 13 goals to her name in 42 appearances for Colombia.

6. Alessia Russo

Alessia Russo is one of the best 10 women's footballers in the world right now I sportzpoint.com
Alessia Russo after scoring a goal in a Arse's 4-1 WSL win over Chelsea in 2023. Image | Facebook 
  • National Team: England
  • Club: Arsenal
  • Position: Forward
  • Goals: 87

Alessia Russo is a professional footballer who plays for England and the WSL club Arsenal as a forward. She has exceptional records, including being awarded the player of the month and goal of the month for Arsenal.

Alessia is known for her aggressive gameplay and match-winning abilities. She played for other clubs like Chelsea and Manchester United before, and was also the top scorer twice.

Her club goals count to 66 in 138 appearances across all clubs and 21 in 49 appearances for England.

Read Also: Football Facts: Top 10 Players With Most Goal Contributions In A Season Since 2000

5. Khadija Shaw

Khadija Shaw is one of the best 10 women's footballers in the world right now I sportzpoint.com
Khadija Shaw in action for Manchester City in a WSL match against Liverpool. Image | womenfootball.blog
  • National Team: Jamaica
  • Club: Manchester City 
  • Position: Forward
  • Goals: 182

The all-time top scorer, Khadija Shaw, is one of the world's best strikers from Jamaica, who also plays as a forward for Manchester City.

Khadija holds the record for the most hat-tricks in the history of the Women's Super League. She scored 125 goals in her 144 club appearances and 57 goals in 44 appearances for Jamaica!

She was named The Guardian Footballer of the Year in 2018 as a tribute to her legendary contributions in football.

4. Alexia Putellas

alexia putellas is one of the best 10 women's footballers in the world right now I sportzpoint.com
Alexia putellas in action for Spain in a football match. Image | Business Insider 
  • National Team: Spain
  • Club: FC Barcelona 
  • Position: Midfielder
  • Goals: 260

Alexis Putellas is a Spanish midfielder or forward who currently plays for Barcelona. She is the captain of Barcelona and has won all the individual European football awards.

Alexis is widely appreciated for her style of play and aura. She has previously played for Espanyol and Levante, having a total of 226 goals in 515 appearances across all clubs. 

She scored 34 goals for the Spanish National Team in 130 appearances. Alexis also won Ballon d'Or Féminin for two consecutive years in 2021 and 2022.

3. Caroline Graham Hansen

Caroline Graham Hansen is one of the best 10 women's footballers in the world right now I sportzpoint.com
Caroline Graham Hansen during a match playing for Barcelona. Image | BBC
  • National Team: Norway 
  • Club: FC Barcelona 
  • Position: Winger
  • Goals: 225

Caroline Graham Hansen is a Norwegian footballer who is one of the best wingers in the world. She plays for Barcelona and has won prestigious awards like Statoil Talent Award of the Year and others.

Hansen has exceptional dribbling and passing skills, which never fail to amaze the fans. She played for other clubs like Stabæk and Wolfsburg and scored 180 goals in all 404 appearances.

Her goals count to 45 in 95 international caps for Norway.

Read Also: Players with the Most Hat-tricks in International football (Male and Female)

2. Sophia Smith

Sophia Smith is one of the best 10 women's footballers in the world right now I sportzpoint.com
Sophia Smith celebrating her goal against Vietnam in World Cup Opener in 2023. Image | The Today Show
  • National Team: USA
  • Club: Portland Thorns
  • Position: Forward 
  • Goals: 74

Sophia Smith is an American footballer who plays as a forward for the team. She plays for the NWSL club Portland Thorns and was named the most valuable player for them, along with the Golden Boot, in 2022.

Sophia scored 3 goals in the Paris Olympics 2024 for the US National Team. She earned her national team cap in 2020 and became the youngest player to debut for the US Women's National Team.

She scored 50 goals in 95 appearances for Portland Thorns FC and 24 goals in 58 appearances for the USA. 

Her contributions in the world of football makes her way to the list of best 10 women's footballers in the world right now.

1. Aitana Bonmatí 

Aitana Bonmatí is one of the best 10 women's footballers in the world right now I sportzpoint.com
Aitana Bonmatí celebrates after scoring a goal for Barcelona in the Champions League Final in 2024. Image | Pinterest 
  • National Team: Spain
  • Club: FC Barcelona 
  • Position: Midfielder
  • Goals: 134

Aitana Bonmatí is a Spanish footballer who plays as a midfielder for FC Barcelona. She is one of the greatest of all time in football history. Her elegant style of play is a treat to the eyes. 

The Spanish National team captain won the Ballon d'Or Féminin, Laureus World Sports Award, and Golden Player Woman Award for her incredible 2023 season for Spain and Barcelona. She is the first women's player to win The Best, Ballon d'Or, UEFA Player of the Year and World Cup Golden Ball in the same year

Bonmati was the Player of the tournament in the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 as Spain lifted their maiden Women's World Cup title

She scored 104 goals in 289 appearances for Barcelona and 30 international goals for Spain.

Honorary Mention: Mary Earps

Mary Earps is one of the best footballers in the world right now I sportzpoint.com
Mary Earps celebrating a goal save during a match for England. Image | FIFPro

The legendary English goalkeeper, Mary Earps, is a name honorary mention for this list. She plays for PSG and is considered to have the safest pair of hands when it comes to football. Earps' legendary performance in the UEFA Euro 2022 will always be remembered in the history of English football, as they lifted the European Championship. 

Earps played for a total of 11 clubs, including Manchester United and became the first goalkeeper to reach 50 clean sheets in the WSL

Earps received the Golden Glove Award for her record-breaking 14 clean sheets in 2024 for Manchester United. She is a two-time FIFA Best and Golden Glove winner. 

Her iconic contributions deserves a special place in the list of best 10 women's footballers in the world right now.

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IWL 2024-25: East Bengal FC clinch their maiden title; Gokulam finish as runners-up

East Bengal FC cemented their status as IWL 2024-25 champions with a commanding 3-0 victory over Gokulam Kerala FC at the East Bengal ground on Friday.

Apr 18, 2025, 3:53 PM2 min read

IWL 2024-25: East Bengal FC clinch their maiden title; Gokulam finish as runners-up | sportzpoint.com

East Bengal FC cemented their status as IWL 2024-25 champions with a commanding 3-0 victory over Gokulam Kerala FC at the East Bengal ground on Friday.

Already assured of the title before kickoff, the Red and Golds showcased their supremacy by defeating every team in the league en route to the championship, with all three goals coming in an explosive first half.

Read Also | Exclusive Shreya Hooda: Best Goalkeeper in IWL & NFC, National team and the World Cup dream

Elshaddai Acheampong

The star of the show was Elshaddai Acheampong, who opened the scoring in the 27th minute. After missing earlier chances, including a header from five yards in the 19th minute, the Ghanaian forward made amends with a clinical finish, chipping the goalkeeper after a deft move past defenders following a pass from Anju Tamang.

Read Also | 10 Best Women's Football Players and Leagues You Must Watch in 2025

IWL 2024-25: East Bengal FC clinch their maiden title; Gokulam finish as runners-up

Her poacher’s instinct shone again in the 37th minute, tapping in a cross from Karthika Angamuthu at the back post to double the lead. Minutes before halftime, Soumya Guguloth sealed the rout in the 42nd minute, rounding the keeper to score after a perfectly timed through ball.

Read Also | Beatrice Chebet becomes the first woman to run 5km under 14 minutes in Barcelona

Despite the title already in hand, East Bengal displayed remarkable professionalism, dominating possession and stifling Gokulam from the outset. The second half saw Gokulam mount a brief challenge, testing goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu with a long-range effort, but the champions held firm. This win marked the only team East Bengal had yet to beat this season, completing a flawless campaign.

The victory underscored East Bengal’s dominance throughout the season, blending skill, composure, and relentless attacking play.

IWL 2024-25: Gokulam Kerala finished as runners-up | sportzpoint.com

For Gokulam, the defeat highlighted their struggle against the league’s top side, as East Bengal celebrated a perfect end to their triumphant IWL 2024-25 journey.

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Chelsea Women sign Naomi Girma for a world-record transfer fee

USWNT defender Naomi Girma was presented at Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea Women roped her in after completing a world-record deal for a female footballer.

Jan 27, 2025, 11:07 AM3 min read

Chelsea Women sign Naomi Girma for a world-record transfer fee-sportzpoint.com
(Image Credit | Chelsea)

USWNT Defender Naomi Girma has joined Chelsea Women for a world-record transfer fee for a female footballer. The Women's Super League leaders paid €1 million to San Diego Wave FC to secure the services of the 24-year-old defender.

Girma was officially presented on the pitch by the Women’s Super League champions before Sunday’s 1-0 victory against Arsenal Women at Stamford Bridge.

Girma signs for Chelsea for a world-record fee

Chelsea Women sign Naomi Girma for a world-record transfer fee-sportzpoint.com
(Image Source | Getty Images)

The world record for the highest transfer fees paid for a female footballer was held by Bay FC, who paid €685,000 for Racheal Kundananji in February 2024.

Chelsea has broken the transfer world record and also surpassed the British transfer signing record as well, previously held by Mayra Ramirez, who signed for Chelsea for a €384,000 transfer fee.

Girma has also become the first-ever €1M signing in women's football.

Chelsea Women gaffer Sonia Bompastor has made her first January 2025 signing with Girma as she will enter the team roster after Chelsea defender Kadeisha Buchanan suffered an ACL tear injury in November 2024.

Naomi Girma played an integral part in USWNT's Olympic Gold-winning campaign in Paris last year and was also named the US Soccer’s female player of the year in 2023. She was also named the NWSL Defender of the Year in 2022 and 2023.

However, Girma has signed a huge 4-year deal until 2029 as Chelsea head of women’s football Paul Green affirmed his confidence in this signing.

Naomi is a world-class defender who is now coming into the prime years of her career.

Girma also expressed her excitement about joining the Blues as she stated to BBC Sport:

I'm so happy and really excited to be here. It doesn't feel real,

There are a lot of things about Chelsea that made me want to come here - the culture, the winning mentality, staff and players.

It's a top environment to learn and grow in. Right now, that's what I'm looking to do.

Record transfers in women's football

Player Position Signed for Transfer fee
Naomi Girma CB Chelsea Women €1M
Racheal Kundananji FW Bay FC €685K
Barbra Banda FW Orlando Pride €581K
Mayra Ramirez FW Chelsea Women €426K
Keira Walsh MF Barcelona Femeni €400K

 

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East Bengal begins IWL 2025 Journey with dominant over Kickstart FC

East Bengal made a strong statement in their Indian Women's League opener, defeating Kickstart FC with a solid performance. The team showcased exceptional skill and teamwork, set down the foundation for a promising campaign.

Jan 10, 2025, 5:27 PM2 min read

East Bengal begins IWL 2025 Journey with dominant over Kickstart FC | sportzpoint.com
Image | East Bengal FC

East Bengal commenced their Indian Women's League (IWL) 2024-25 season with a commendable 2- 0 victory over Kickstart FC at the historic East Bengal Ground on 10th January 2025. Two brilliant goals scored by Sandhya Ranganathan and Resty Nanzary are enough to take three points for the Red and Gold brigade.

East Bengal begins IWL 2025 Journey with dominant over Kickstart FC | sportzpoint.com

The home side's first goal materialized by another regular starter for India Soumya Guguloth played a crucial role in that goal. She delivered a ball from the right for Sulanjana Raul, whose header struck the crossbar. The rebound was found by Sandhya Ranganathan, who netted it with a beautiful header.

Read Also | Exclusive Shreya Hooda: Best Goalkeeper in IWL & NFC, National team and the World Cup dream

Maintaining their momentum, East Bengal doubled their lead early in the second half. In the 49th minute, Ugandan recruit Resty Nanzari, made a beautiful run from the left side of the pitch and showcased her skill by delivering a precise low shot into the near post, and securing a goal. That was enough to start a season with a commendable victory for the home side.

East Bengal begins IWL 2025 Journey with dominant over Kickstart FC | sportzpoint.com

Kickstart FC, originating from Bengaluru, attempted to penetrate East Bengal's defence but struggled to create promising opportunities in the attacking third. The host's defence was rock solid and effectively neutralized a clean sheet to start their IWL campaign on a positive note.

Read Also | Indumathi, Shilky, Shreya among the winners of IWL 2023-24 awards

The victory provided East Bengal with a solid foundation for positive progress in the IWL season, they were rock solid in defence and also offensively great. Conversely, Kickstart FC will aim to enhance their strategies in the upcoming matches to rebound from the initial setback. 

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Debutant Lhingdeikim shines for India with four goals: India beat Maldives by 11-1

Debutant Lhingdeikim's four goals along with Simran Gurung's brace helped the Indian Women's Football team thrash Maldives by 11-1 in their FIFA Friendly match in Bangalore.

Jan 2, 2025, 2:50 PM3 min read

Debutant Lhingdeikim shines for India with four goals: India beat Maldives by 11-1 | sportzpoint.com
Image | AIFF Media

Debutant Lhingdeikim's four goals along with Simran Gurung's brace helped the Indian Women's Football team thrash Maldives by 11-1 in their FIFA Friendly match in Bangalore. Kajol Dsouza, Pooja, Sibani Devi, and Khumukcham Bhumika Devi were the other scorers for Blue Tigeress. 

After beating Bangladesh by 14-0 in their final match of 2024, the Indian Women's Football team started the 2025 on a great note with an emphatic win over the visitors, Maldives. 

India head coach Joakim Alexandersson made many changes to the team that played against Bangladesh which handed two debutants a chance in the starting XI. Lhingdeikim, who scored four goals (twice in both halves) and Shibani Devi, who last year featured for East Bengal FC in the Indian Women's League were among the changes Alexandersson.

Read Also | Indian Women's Football team crush Maldives 14-0 in FIFA Friendly

Ribansi Jamu, Thingbaijam Sanjita Devi, Juhi Singh, Monisha Singha, Khumukcham Bhumika Devi and Simran Gurung were the players who made their debut off the bench. 

Read Also | Exclusive: Here's how Football giving hope to "Mini-Brazil of India"

Maldives looked good in the early minutes which forced Linthoingambi Devi to make some saves but once the Indian team resolved the issue and found their pace, they were tough to resist.

Debutant Lhingdeikim shines for India with four goals: India beat Maldives by 11-1 | sportzpoint.com
Image | AIFF Media

Lhingdeikim started the onslaught for India with an early goal in the 12th minute before providing an assist for Kajol Dsouza to extend the lead three minutes later. She found the net again in the next minute after receiving a perfect ball from Sibani. In the 17th minute, Sangita Basfore's header was deflected into the goal by Maldives captain Hawwa Haneefa. 

However, right before the halfway mark, Maldives scored their only goal of the match as Mariyam Rifa found the net after a defensive error from the Indian team. 

But, India struck again before half-time with Pooja and Shibani scoring one each. At half-time, India were leading by 6-1 and it looked like we would have the scoreline just like the last match. 

Debutant Lhingdeikim shines for India with four goals: India beat Maldives by 11-1 | sportzpoint.com
Image | AIFF Media

Lhingdeikim started the second half by scoring from a beautiful assist by Pooja in the 56th minute. A minute later she scored her fourth goal of the match by flicking a ball with his right foot for a neat finish. This time, Kajol was the assist provider for her. 

Simran Gurung, who came off the bench at halftime, scored two goals in the 62nd and 68th minutes. A red card for Maeesha Abdul Hannan did not help the Maldives as well as the defender made a deliberate handball inside the penalty box. Bhumika Devi converted the penalty in the 71st minute to complete the riot. 

Scorecard | India vs Maldives | FIFA Friendlies (Women's)

Maldives 1 (Mariyam Rifa 27’)

India 11 (Lhingdeikim 12’, 16’, 56’, 59’, Kajol Dsouza 15’, Hawwa Haneefa 17’ o.g., Pooja 41’, Sibani Devi 45+1’, Simran Gurung 62’, 68’, Khumukcham Bhumika Devi 71’ p)

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