Team India have sealed their berth for the AFC Under-20 Women's Asian Cup football after defeating Myanmar 1-0 in their final Group D qualifying match. This is India's first qualification in two decades.
Pooja scored the goal against Myanmar in the 27th minute at the Thuwunna Stadium as India finished on top of the group with seven points to make it to the 2026 edition of the AFC Under-20 Women's Asian Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Thailand.
India dominated in the first half, but Myanmar controlled the proceedings in the second.
Neha and Sibani Devi Nongmeikapam combined in the third minute to threaten the Myanmar goal but it did not lead to a goal. The hosts launched a few counter-attacks, and forward Su Su Khin came close to scoring in the ninth minute.
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Pooja, who was the lone goal scorer of the match, gave India the lead before the half-hour mark. She initiated the counterattack before crossing it in from the right. The ball evaded one and all, but Neha, at the opposite flank, managed to get onto the end of it and sent it looping back in.
Pooja reached the goal area just in time and managed to push the ball over the line with her body. The goal helped Team India to shift the momentum of the game and they kept control of the ball and held on to their narrow lead until halftime.
The second half was different as Myanmar attacked strongly after getting the cheer from the home crowd, but India's goalkeeper Monalisha Devi had to make a quick save in the 48th minute to stop Su Su Khin.
India worked hard to defend as Myanmar kept coming at them. Monalisha, who had not let in any goals in the last two matches, had to act fast again with just 10 minutes left. Myanmar’s substitute, Moe Pwint Phyu, headed a cross from Ei Thet Phyo that hit the goalpost.
The ball rolled along the goal line, but Monalisha jumped and cleared it just in time. Phyu hit the goalpost again in the 90th minute, when her shot deflected off Shubhangi and went out of play. Right after that, India counter-attacked. Sibani crossed the ball to Sulanjana Raul, whose header hit the crossbar.
Even though Myanmar kept the pressure on, India held on to their lead and qualified for the next stage, for the first time since 2006.