Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: India made a winning start in the 2024 SAFF Women’s Championship, defeating Pakistan 5-2 in the championship opener at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu on Thursday.
Grace Dangmei, Manisha, Bala Devi and Jyoti Chauhan scored for India, while Suha Hirani and Kayla Marie Siddique found the net for Pakistan.
The victory means India has beaten Pakistan in all four of their encounters in the international arena.
India took the lead in the fifth minute of the match as Grace Dangmei unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box after a beautiful cross by overlapping Ranjana Chanu from the left.
The second goal came in the 17th minute when Manisha scored past the Pakistan goalie from Bala Devi’s beautiful through pass. Bala Devi scored India’s third from an indirect free-kick in the 35th minute.
After Grace scored India’s fourth and her second in the 42nd minute, Pakistan scored just before halftime when India conceded a penalty. Suha Hirani scored from the spot in the third minute of the injury time.
Pakistan got its second in the third minute of the second half as Kayla Marie Siddique scored when Indian defenders failed to deal with the corner kick. However, Jyoti Chauhan headed in a Dalima Chhibber corner in the 78th minute for India to dash Pakistan’s hope of coming back into the game.
Sri Lanka takes on the Maldives in the first match before Nepal hosts Bhutan in the second match on Friday.
