New Delhi: Lynda Kom scored a hat-trick while Shilky Devi netted twice as Indian women kicked off their AFC U-16 Qualifiers campaign in style breezing past Hong Kong 6-1 in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, Saturday. Sunita Munda scored the other goal for India.
Sunita who opened the flood gates for India in the 23rd minute before Shilky doubled the lead 12 minutes later. Lynda added the third four minutes from half time to go into the break with a healthy lead.
Changing over, the girls continued their attacking momentum and were rewarded with a penalty in the 50th minute to which Shilky made no mistake in slotting past opposition goalie.
Lynda scored the fifth connecting a Aveka Singh cross in the 73rd minute before completing her hat-trick in the added-on time. Hong Kong reduced the margin in the 86th minute through Sneha Limbu.
The Indian girls who won the SAFF U-15 Championship last month in Bhutan will be aiming to finish on top of the group which will be enough to hand them an automatic qualification into the final phase of the AFC Women’s Championship to be held next year.
India next play Pakistan U-16, September 19 before facing hosts Mongolia U-16 and Laos U-16 in their last group league matches respectively.