Football
Pink Ladies Youth Cup: India edges past Hong Kong in second friendly
Sibani Devi scored the winner for India in the second half.
Sibani Devi scored the winner for India against Hong Konga in the Pink Ladies Youth Cup 2025. (Photo Credits: AIFF Media)
The India U20 women’s national team registered their second consecutive win in the Pink Ladies U20 Youth Cup, beating Hong Kong 1-0 at the Emirhan Sports Centre in Manavgat, Türkiye, on Saturday.
Winger Sibani Devi Nongmeikapam (53’) scored the only goal of the match, in the second half. The Young Tigresses had earlier defeated Jordan U20 2-1.
Though the Pink Ladies Youth Cup is for U20 teams, India's Saturday rivals, Hong Kong, were comprised of players above the cutoff age.
Goalless First Half
The Blue Tigresses began the match with a certain degree of control in the middle, as Cindy Remruatpuii Colney and Kajol D’Souza dictated the proceedings. The chances, however, were few and far between.
India’s best chance of the half came in the 21st minute, when forward Lhingdeikim scampered into the Hong Kong box, cut past her marker, and pulled the trigger with her left foot. Her low shot was tipped onto the far post by Hong Kong goalkeeper Lee Yi Yan.
With less than 10 minutes of the first half left, Pooja had an opportunity from a similar position, as she cut left and produced a low shot aimed at the bottom corner. That too was saved.
Sibani Devi scores the winner
Hong Kong seemed to show a little more intent after the change of ends, as they kept possession in the middle and looked for chances. However, that left them vulnerable out wide, thus allowing India to score.
Pooja outpaced her marker on the right flank, before sending a low cross for Sibani, who controlled the ball, swiveled to a better shooting position, and placed it into the bottom corner.
Hong Kong’s best chance came minutes after the hour mark when Wai Ting Yuen cut in from the right flank and drilled a cross across the face of the goal. However, her teammates reacted too late, and the opportunity went a-begging.
Neha could have given India some breathing space with less than a quarter of an hour left, when she broke free down the left, entered the box, and produced a powerful shot at the bottom far corner, but that too, was saved.
What's Next
The Young Tigresses will face Russia in their last match of the Pink Ladies U20 Youth Cup, which will kick off at 5.30 pm IST, on Tuesday, February 25, 2025.
