India Thrashed 0-10 by Thailand in Asian Games

 

INCHEON – Indian women rounded off their league encounters receiving a 0-10 thrashing from Thailand here Sunday in their third Group A match of the football competition in the Asian Games.

Thailand dominated the proceedings right from the start and led 8-0 at interval at the Namdong Asiad Rugby Field. It was India’s second successive loss in the tournament by a similar margin.

Four goals each from captain Sung Ngoen Kanjana and midfielder Boothduang Wilaiporn, and one each from substitutes Sornsai Pitasamai and Seesraum Naphat sealed the issue for Thailand in an one-sided encounter. Such was Thailand’s domination that they surged into a 2-0 lead within eight minutes of the match and breezed to a 6-0 lead by the half-hour mark.

India felt the absence of captain Bembem Devi – suspended for the game for a double booking against South Korea – in the midfield as their fleet-footed counterparts got behind the Indian defenders more often than not. Stand in captain Romi Devi and her defensive partners did try to shut it down but in vain.

However, the Indian women looked much better in the second period after conceding one early, and their efforts bore fruit when striker Bala Devi headed Kamala Devi’s cross from the inside the box, went wide in the 78th minute. That was the closest India came.

Kamala picked out Bala once again with the match nearing final whistle but the tall Manipuri girl was closed down well by two defenders.

Goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan matched the efforts up at the other end, saving twice in split seconds to deny Naphat from the penalty spot but the substitute striker drilled low past the Delhi keeper in her third attempt to finish the scoreline.