SAFF C’ship: Aerial prowess gives India new edge in attack

Panaji: Of the 11 goals that India scored against Maldives in their SAFF Women’s Championship opener, the best was saved for the last.
With India scoring at will and taking a 10-0 lead at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Monday, almost everyone waited for the referee to bring the game to end. But with four minutes left on the clock, there was time for the home team to score one more. It turned out to be a beauty, from the head of Aveka Singh, quite easily the most dominant player on the field.
After scoring a hat-trick, Aveka dived to avoid two Maldives markers, and headed the ball past onrushing goalkeeper Fathimath Sausan. It was the striker’s fourth on the night, and the second from a header.
“It’s always good, as a coach, to see forwards score goals, but the most important thing for me is that we (previously) didn’t have headers in the team,” said coach Crispin Chettri. “Aveka scored with beautiful headers, so that’s a plus point for us.”
Another pleasing performance came from Karishma Shirvoikar.
The only Goan in the India women’s team took to the field as a second-half substitute and ended up scoring two goals in 15 minutes. Her first came from a header as she outjumped two much taller players to meet Sarita Yumnam’s cross.
“Karishma has been doing good, but she's like a ship in the sea; sometimes very high, sometimes very low. She has to be consistent. She didn't have the best of IWL (Indian Women’s League) in the second phase. Now that she has scored, that will build confidence within her when we move forward to face Bangladesh.”

India’s 11-0 win against Maldives – who conceded 25 goals in two group-stage games during the last edition two years ago – was never really in doubt. It was just about the goal count. Once Priyangka Devi Naorem gave the home team a 12th minute lead, there was no looking back.

“Besides winning, we must develop players too. We gave a chance to Jasoda (Munda) in the starting 11, Sarita (Yumnam) started too and there were some minutes for Ribansi (Jamu), from the under-20 team. They have to get a feel of what it’s like to be in the senior team. The transition has to be there.

“We have to improve. We have Bangladesh in our group and our (next) game will be a very good one. We know where we have to improve if we want to win against Bangladesh. It will be an interesting match to watch for everyone,” said Chettri.