Historic Landmark For Indian Football! Women's Team Qualifies For AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup

Last Updated:August 10, 2025, 18:46 IST

India's U20 women's football team qualified for the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup for the first time in 20 years with a 1-0 win over Myanmar.

Indian U20 Women's Football Team (Credit: AIFF)

India’s U20 women’s football team created history on Sunday, sealing qualification for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup for the first time in 20 years with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Myanmar in their final Group D qualifier at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon.

The match was decided by a moment of quick thinking from Pooja, who struck in the 27th minute. Initiating the move herself, she launched a counterattack down the right flank before delivering a cross that evaded everyone in the box.

Neha, positioned on the far side, managed to loop the ball back into the danger area, where Pooja—having sprinted into the goalmouth—reacted instinctively to bundle it over the line with her torso.

That goal settled early nerves, and the Young Tigresses controlled possession for much of the first half, heading into the break with a slender but crucial advantage.

The second half saw a complete shift in momentum. Urged on by a vocal home crowd, Myanmar poured forward relentlessly. Goalkeeper Monalisha Devi, who had maintained clean sheets in India’s previous two matches, pulled off a key save in the 48th minute to deny forward Su Su Khin.

Myanmar’s pressure intensified late on. In the 80th minute, substitute Moe Pwint Phyu headed against the upright from an Ei Thet Phyo cross, the ball rolling dangerously along the goal line before Monalisha scrambled it clear. Phyu hit the woodwork again in the 90th minute after her shot took a deflection off Shubhangi.

Late Drama and Historic Qualification

India nearly doubled their lead in stoppage time when Sibani Devi found Sulanjana Raul on a counterattack, but her header rattled the crossbar. Despite Myanmar’s relentless waves of attack, India held firm to protect their lead.

With the win, India topped Group D with seven points and secured a berth in the 2026 AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup in Thailand—their first appearance since 2006. The result capped a resilient campaign, showcasing both defensive grit and moments of attacking flair.

(with PTI inputs)

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

Read More

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First Published:

August 10, 2025, 18:46 IST

News sports » football Historic Landmark For Indian Football! Women's Team Qualifies For AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup

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