India U17 women beat Syria 2-0 in AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027 qualifying match in Selayang
India’s U17 women defeated Syria 2-0 at the MP Selayang Stadium in Selayang, Malaysia, on Thursday, October 8, 2026, in Group E of the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers; Anushka Kumari scored in the sixth and 54th minutes to take her qualifying tally to seven goals. The win gave India six points from two matches and moved them to the top of Group E.
Anushka had entered the game after scoring five times in India’s 14-0 opening victory over Iraq, and head coach Joakim Alexandersson kept the same starting XI that had prevailed three days earlier. Syria came into the fixture having lost 0-1 to Malaysia in their opening game, while Malaysia and Iraq were scheduled to meet later on the same day. India’s approach relied on a compact midfield, quick distribution and sustained pressure on Syria’s defence.
The first goal arrived in the sixth minute after Syria defender Bayab Jomaa Ato fouled Silky Devi Sorokhaibam on the right edge of the penalty area; Redima Devi Chingkhamayum curled the free-kick into the box, Bayab headed it away and the clearance fell to Anushka, who shifted onto her left and lobbed a left-footed shot into the far top corner for her sixth goal of the qualifiers.
India controlled large portions of the first half, with midfielders and defenders closing spaces and goalkeeper Munni required to make few saves. Redima, Thandamoni Baskey and Alva Devi Senjam repeatedly stretched the Syrian back line, and India threatened from set plays as Ritu Badaik’s corner found captain Abhista Basnett for a header that Syria goalkeeper Media Housain could only scramble away; Ritu’s subsequent corner set up Julan Nongmaithem, whose first-time effort was saved.
Anushka narrowly missed doubling the lead before half-time when Media failed to hold another attempt and Syria captain Arin Assad cleared the striker’s chipped effort off the line. Nine minutes after the restart, Anushka converted her second of the night after Syria failed to clear following Alva’s challenge inside the box, drilling a right-footed shot into the near post for her seventh goal in two qualifiers.
Play was stopped in the 58th minute because of an approaching thunderstorm — a delay of almost half an hour, as had occurred in India’s opening match against Iraq — and resumed with rain under the Selayang floodlights. After the break India continued to press but could not add to the score; substitute Pritika Barman released a run down the right and squared for Anushka, who put a close-range chance wide, while Syria defended in numbers to preserve the clean sheet.
India U17 Women: Munni (GK), Taniya Devi Tonambam, Thandamoni Baskey, Julan Nongmaithem, Anushka Kumari, Alva Devi Senjam, Ritu Baidaik (Daina Devi Konthoujam 79′), Redima Devi Chingkhamayum (Yashica Haribabu 79′), Abhista Basnett (C) (Ambalika Chanu Khundongbam 46′), Nira Chanu Longjam (Joya 79′), Silky Devi Sorokhaibam (Pritika Barman 46′).
India will face hosts Malaysia on October 11 at 18:30 IST in their final Group E match, with only the group winners securing qualification for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027.
