South Asian Games 2019: Indian women begin title defence with dominating win
India had a go at their opponents from the start, and the results came as soon as the seventh minute when a Ranjana Chanu cross was met by Dangmei Grace, who opened the scoring. The lead was soon doubled by Sandhiya after she was played in by Ratanbala.
A little after the quarter-hour mark, Sandhiya returned the favour, as she set up Ratanbala as India took a three-goal lead. As we approached the half-hour mark, Ratanbala had a go at goal but was denied by the woodwork. However, Grace got on to the rebound, affecting an intricate interplay between herself and Bala, before Sandhiya finished it off.
FULL-TIME! And with that, we come to the end of the game, as India post another big win 💪
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) December 5, 2019
🇮🇳 6-0 🇱🇰#INDSRI ⚔ #SAG2019 🏅 #BackTheBlue 💙 #ShePower 👧 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/HzzMUCC1pd
Since then, the Indian girls controlled the pace of the game, as they slowed things down and passed the ball around the park before the breather. They came out with the same vigour in the second half, and dominated their opponents, prodding and probing at the Sri Lanka defensive third.
Head Coach Maymol Rocky made a couple of changes around the hour mark, bringing on Daya Devi and Manisha in place of Sandhiya and Ranjana.
It was in the dying embers of the game when the Indians added two more. With two minutes of regulation time left, substitute Manisha set Ratanbala through, as the latter went on to complete her brace. W Linthoingambi, who was brought on in the last 10 minutes, turned provider in added time when she sent in an inch-perfect cross for Bala Devi to score the sixth goal.
Source: AIFF Release