India Thrash Mongolia 13-0 in AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers Opener
- Pixel Sports Football Desk
- Jun 23
- 2 min read
The Blue Tigresses couldn’t have asked for a better start. India opened their AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers with a record-breaking 13-0 win over Mongolia at the 700th Anniversary of Chiang Mai Stadium in Thailand on Monday, June 23, 2025.
The Indian women dominated from the first whistle, going into half-time with a 4-0 lead and unleashing a scoring storm in the second half. This result is now India’s biggest-ever win in the history of the Women’s Asian Cup, surpassing the previous best of 10-0 victories against Guam in 1997 and 2005.
Pyari Xaxa was the star of the night, scoring five goals (29’, 45’, 46’, 52’, 55’) in a ruthless attacking display. She completed her hat-trick just seconds into the second half, volleying in a cross from Grace Dangmei, and kept going to add two more within the next nine minutes.
Soumya Guguloth (20’, 59’) and Priyadharshini Selladurai (73’, 86’) netted two goals each, while Sangita Basfore (8’), Rimpa Haldar (67’), Malavika (71’), and Grace Dangmei (75’ – penalty) also joined the party.
India’s opener came from Basfore, who nodded home from a Soumya cross in the 8th minute. Just 12 minutes later, Soumya doubled the lead with a thunderous volley that struck the post and went in. What followed was a goal fest that Mongolia had no answers to.
With the game firmly in control, head coach Crispin Chettri gave other players valuable minutes. Substitutions saw Purnima Kumari, Priyadharshini, and Malavika brought on early in the second half, followed by Ranjana Chanu and goalkeeper Monalisha Devi.
Even with the changes, the intensity didn’t drop. Rimpa, Malavika, and Priyadharshini struck in quick succession before a penalty from Grace and a final finish from Priyadharshini capped off a dream start for India.
With this dominant start, India have made a strong statement in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers. The focus now shifts to consistency and keeping this momentum going in the remaining matches.
