Hosts Nepal, Sri Lanka and India all began their AFC U-14 Girls’ Regional Championship – South & Central Zone campaigns with wins in Kathmandu on Monday.
Sri Lanka met Maldives in their first match of the tournament and won 6-0 with six players scoring goals. Sri Lanka dominated from the opening whistle and made their mark in the 4th minute when forward Surenthiran Gowri scored.
Dilinika Lochani scored 10 minutes later and Methmini Ekanayake added the 3rd in the 23rd minute. Sri Lanka girls weren’t finished scoring for the first half as they added the 4th and 5th goals in the 32nd and 35th minutes through Thakshila Wijesinghe and captain Imesha Warnakulasuriya. Sri Lanka were able to score only one goal in the 2nd half which came in injury time through Siwaneswaran Tharmika.
Player of the match was Surenthiran Gowri who caused havoc for the Maldives defense.
GROUP A
Iran 2-3 Nepal
Scorers: Fatemeh Amiri (27”), Fatemeh Ghasemi (70+3”); Saru Limbu (25”), Rekha Poudel (32”, 47”)
Yellow cards: Maryam Sadeghani (65”); Rabita Kumari (35+2”)
Referee: Kusum Mandi (India)
Maldives 0-6 Sri Lanka
Scorers: Surenthiran Gowri (4”), Dilinika Lochani (15”), Methmini Ekanayaka (23”), Thakshila Dhanushi Wijesingha (32”), Imesha Warnakulasuriya (35+2”), Sivaneswaran Tharmika (70+1”)
Yellow cards: Fareed Aminath Aala (33”), Jameel Lamya (44”); Imesha Warnakulasuriya (35+2”)
Referee: Kunzang Choden (Bhutan)
GROUP B
India 12-0 Bhutan
Scorers: Aparna Roy (16”), Somaaya Nadia Mukundan (20”), Soumya Guguloth (22”), Bannya Kabiraj (23”), Laxmi Devi Yumnam (25”), Thailand Devi Yumlembam (34”, 37”, 48”), Karishma Rai (49”, 54”, 69”, 70+1”)
Referee: Malika Madhushani (Sri Lanka)
Sri Lanka sit on top of the Group A table above Nepal due to goal difference and will continue their campaign with a tie against Iran, while Nepal will take on the Maldives. Both games are scheduled for Tuesday.
India occupy pole position in the three-nation Group B table as the first matchday concluded and will face off against Bangladesh, also on Tuesday.
