India and Malaysia will clash for a place in the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027 after both sides won their respective Group E Qualifiers matches last night.
India beat Syria 2-0 while Malaysia cruised past Iraq 4-0, with their concluding tie on Sunday earning the winners a place at the 11th edition of the Finals.
Malaysia took the initiative from the start, with striker Lim You making their first move in the ninth minute with a lofted attempt which keeper Asmaa Shivan Ahmed easily tipped over.
Malaysia’s pressing gave them the lead in the 19th minute when, following a corner, the ball took a deflection of Iraq skipper Asmaa Yousif Qasim in a packed six-yard box and into the path of Aisyah Nur Iman Fuad, who headed over the Iraq custodian.
A pinpoint cross from You in the 35th minute set up Qaseh Riana Dafira Rafiuddin, but the striker’s quest for a second Malaysian goal was foiled when her shot from outside the box was blocked by an onrushing Ahmed.
The same combination, however, paid off a minute into first half stoppage time when an unmarked Qaseh Riana first-timed the ball from You’s cross between the Iraq custodian and the right post to extend their lead.
The hard-working You put her name on the scoresheet in the 58th minute after she manoeuvred past Amel Adnan Qasim on the right edge of the box and curled her shot over an outstretched Ahmed and into the back of the net.
Malaysia made sure of an emphatic win as Keisha Adeliena Khalid laid up for Aisha Lynn Faris in the 85th minute, with the midfielder finding the target from 18 yards.
Vietnam hand Islanders a lesson
Vietnam secured their second win with a sparkling 20 unanswered goals against Northern Mariana Islands and will play Kyrgyz Republic on Sunday to decide Group D winners, with the Southeast Asian side only needing a draw to advance.
Vietnam needed only a minute to open the scoring when Nguyen Quynh Lam’s through ball released Truong Khanh Chi, who lifted her effort over goalkeeper Jacqueline Cepeda, before Quynh Lam doubled their tally from close range two minutes later.
Khanh Chi struck again in the 12th minute after Cepeda spilled Quynh Lam’s effort, allowing her to convert from a tight angle, with Phan Thi Thu Phuong making it 4-0 from range via her free-kick, after Cepeda had misjudged the flight of the ball.
Quynh Lam turned provider again in the 18th minute after gaining possession inside the box and laying it square for Khanh Chi to complete her hat-trick with a simple finish.
Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh added Vietnam’s sixth in the 21st minute before Quynh Lam struck her second five minutes later, with Truong Yen Linh finding the net in the 44th before Do Thi Ha Yi added the ninth in first half stoppage time.
Khanh Chi struck her fourth four just after the restart to take Vietnam into double figures before Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh netted her second in the 57th minute with Ha Yen Nhi netting two minutes later before play was interrupted by bad weather.
Vietnam furthered their advantage after play resumed, with Khanh Chi making it 13-0 in the 70th minute with Quynh Lam striking a minute later and Khanh Chi adding her fourth in the 74th minute.
Further goals were scored by Phan Thi Thu Phuong (84th), Do Thi Ha Vi (84th, 89th), Nguyen Thi Thuy (88th) and Ha My (90th) to complete the sizzling win.
Laos shows Cambodia the exit
Laos made a confident start to their campaign when they outplayed Cambodia 3-1 in their Group C encounter.
A match-winning performance by striker Anna Keo Onsy will see Laos face China Taipei in their concluding match on Sunday for a place in the Finals while Cambodia exit the tournament after two defeats.
A confident start by both sides failed to produce any initial goal-scoring opportunities, with Cambodia’s Chankanha Sok coming close in the 14th minute when her curling effort from inside the box glanced off the right post.
Laos gradually began to edge possession, Anna Keo Onsy first seeing her 20-yard free-kick saved by keeper Sokhim Khann in the 22nd minute and her attempt moments later taking a deflection and bouncing just past the left post.
The striker, however, put things right four minutes later when, off a flick by Phonsavan Sayavong, she collected the ball from more than 30 yards out, shrugged off three defenders, and slammed her shot beyond a rooted Khann.
The duo traded places after the break for Laos’ second goal, with Onsy setting up Sayavong with a cutback from the right in the 47th minute and the unmarked striker finding the bottom left corner with a composed finish.
Onsy put Laos further ahead in the 68th minute when she was set up by Chankham and, with the Cambodia defence closing down on her, fired past Khann from 25 yards with a superbly-executed shot.
Cambodia pulled one back in the 77th minute through Sreypich Roeun, who evaded her marker, burst down the right unguarded and tucked her shot beyond keeper Vanida Keophilavanh’s reach.
Late flurry helps Indonesian win
Indonesia and Singapore set up a showdown after picking up their second wins in Group B. Indonesia left it late before securing a 3-1 win against Saudi Arabia in their Group B clash.
Despite coming into the match in contrasting moods with Saudi Arabia having lost 1-0 to Singapore in their opening game while Indonesia had a 2-0 victory against Bahrain, it was the West Asian side who held their own in the first half.
Gaps, however, started to open in the second half with Indonesia breaking the deadlock in the 66th minute through substitute Nafeeza Nori.
Saudi Arabia refused to be beaten and pulled themselves back into the game with Kenzy Elsadany’s 70th minute equaliser.
Indonesia, however, rallied to score twice late on through Nafeeza (88th) and Fadilah (89th) to bag their second win and stay on course for a place in the Finals.
A confident Singapore took the game to Bahrain and found the breakthrough in the 16th minute from Amelia Tan, who scored her second goal in as many games.
The hosts then doubled their lead in the 42nd minute thanks to Verona Lim’s strike.
Bahrain were better in the second half and kept Singapore under close watch but in the end succumbed to another pair of goals.
Tan struck again in the 67th minute before Kylie Loo made sure of the points for Singapore with her goal five minutes from the end of regulation time.
Singapore win to strengthen hopes
A confident Singapore defeated Bahrain 4-0 in Group B. They took the game to Bahrain and found the breakthrough in the 16th minute from Amelia Tan, who scored her second goal in as many games.
The hosts then doubled their lead in the 42nd minute thanks to Verona Lim’s strike.
Bahrain were better in the second half and kept Singapore under close watch but in the end succumbed to another pair of goals.
Tan struck again in the 67th minute before Kylie Loo made sure of the points for Singapore with her goal five minutes from the end of regulation time.
Thailand chalk up big win
Thailand hammered a hapless Macau 9-0 in Group F.
After frustrating Thailand for most of the half, Macau, China conceded in the 32nd minute after Miricah Shealagh Murdoch set up Pawitchayada Yodthawari for a thumping finish from just above the six-yard box.
Thailand doubled their advantage in the 53rd minute with Pawitchayada cutting inside the box before scoring with a curling finish over Macau, China goalkeeper Chong Weng Lam, who then spilled Natthanan Khampheera’s shot into the path of Murdoch, who made no mistake from close range.
Macau, China fell further behind in the 62nd minute, with Pawitchayada weaving inside the box before firing into the roof of the net from inside the six-yard-box, before Paweesuda Ouanlam nodded home Kawinthida Kikuntod’s corner five minutes later from inside a packed box.
Kalyaphat Muangoon made it 6-0 in the 73rd minute with Nanthiya Meepho adding another four minutes later. Pawitchayada Yodthawari then struck her fourth in the 83rd minute, with Warantorn Pongkoksi rounding off the scoring in the 89th minute.
RESULTS
Group A (Dushanbe)
UAE 0-6 Jordan
Tajikistan 0-6 Korea Republic
Group B (Singapore)
Saudi Arabia 1-3 Indonesia
Bahrain 0-4 Singapore
Group C (Vientiane)
Laos 3-1 Cambodia
Group D (Ho Chi Minh City)
Palestine 1-2 Kyrgyz Republic
N. Mariana Islands 0-20 Vietnam
Group E (Kuala Lumpur)
Syria 0-2 India
Iraq 0-4 Malaysia
Group F (Chonburi)
Bhutan 0-5 Lebanon
Macau, China 0-9 Thailand
Group G (Yangon)
Hong Kong, China 9-0 Guam
Group H (Tashkent)
Bangladesh 2-1 Uzbekistan
