Pink Ladies U20 Youth Cup: India beats Jordan in a close opener

The India U20 women's football team made a rousing start in the Pink Ladies U20 Youth Cup when they beat Jordan 2-1 at the Emirhan Sports Center in Manavgat, Türkiye, on Wednesday.

The Young Tigresses found themselves trailing via a penalty at the break before Lhingdeikim and Pooja scored in the second half to secure the comeback win. India will play two more friendly matches against Hong Kong (February 22) and Russia (February 25) at the same venue.

This was coach Joakim Alexandersson's third win in a row with the Indian national team after leading the senior side to two friendly victories over Maldives earlier this year.

The Swedish coach's strategy was clear from the start - keep possession, press high, and not allow Jordan time and space to build from the back. The Young Tigresses created plenty of chances but must've been disappointed not to convert any in the first half.

Lhingdeikim launched India's first shot on target in the second minute that was straight at the goalkeeper. Neha and Pooja were lively as usual on the wings, having a go at the full-backs and pumping in crosses.

The former put a teasing delivery flash across the face of the goal with no one to convert before picking out Babita Kumari, who sent her header over the bar.

Captain Kajol Dsouza and Anju Chanu, making her youth international debut, were also dominant in midfield, constantly pressing and finding spaces on the overlap. Kajol also saw a couple of 20-yard shots swerve wide of the target.

In the 10th minute, Babita had the clearest chance to put India ahead as she won the ball high up the pitch, created a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper but had her right-footed shot well saved by Sajida Issa.

Totally against the run of play, Jordan was awarded a penalty when goalkeeper Monalisha Devi pushed an opposition player in the box in the 35th minute. Jinan Said converted from 12 yards.

Monalisha, who virtually had nothing to do until that moment in the match, got her right palm to the ball but it wasn't enough to keep it out.

Jordan, who began the game with a mid-block, switched to a low block to preserve the advantage, making it even tougher for India to break them down. However, the Young Tigresses finally clicked and translated their dominance into goals in the second half.

Lhingdeikim, who scored four on her international debut last month, was in the thick of things immediately after the restart. In the 49th minute, the striker got some space on the edge of the box and tried to curl one in but it was collected by Issa.

Then Pooja swung in a cross from the right and the 17-year-old stuck her leg out to reach it but the ball evaded her at the far post.

But it was third time lucky for Lhingdeikim, whose individual skills got India the equalizer in the 63rd minute. Receiving the ball outside the box, she beat a couple of her markers and squeezed a curling shot into the bottom corner from 10 yards to make it 1-1.

Pooja scores a late winner

The goal was a great boost to India's confidence and it would only be a matter of time before they got their second. Alexandersson's substitutions proved to be working well as the introduction of Cindy Colney and Sibani Devi increased the pace of attack.

Sibani was the creator of the second goal in the 77th minute with her electric pace. She burst forward down the right and sent an inch-perfect cutback for Pooja, who didn't waste any time and steered a first-time right-footed shot from a narrow-angle that went into the far corner.

India continued their quest to add to their tally in the final few minutes, while Jordan barely had anything left in their tank. Deep in injury time, Neha had a glorious opportunity to make it three. She was kindly set up by substitute Monisha Singha in plenty of space outside the six-yard box but blazed her shot over.