India continue impressive run in Women's Asian Cup qualifiers with Timor-Leste win

The Indian senior women's team continued their impressive run in the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers with a commanding 4-0 win over Timor-Leste on Sunday, June 29. Winger Manisha Kalyan scored a fantastic brace while Anju Tamang and Lynda Kom Serto also got on the scoresheet as the Blue Tigresses blanked Timor-Leste in a one-sided contest at the 700th Anniversary Stadium.

Fresh from their record-breaking 13-0 win over Mongolia in their opening fixture, India came into the contest full of confidence. The Indian team started from where they left off against Mongolia and applied early pressure on Timor-Leste and creating opportunities with some slick passing and phenomenal wing play. The first chance for the Blue Tigresses came in the sixth minute when Tamang latched on to a through ball, but the Timor-Leste goalkeeper Gorette Da Costa pulled off a good save to deny India from taking the lead.

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However, the Indian team didn't have to wait long for the breakthrough as a neat one-two allowed Tamang to unleash Manisha, who beat her marker and before cutting inside and producing a powerful left-footed strike that didn't give the goalkeeper any chance. India dictated the tempo of the contest and Pyari Xaxa nearly made it 2-0, but her shot rattled the woodwork.

Timor-Leste were left absorb a lot of pressure as India kept creating chances and were thankful that the score remained only 1-0 at half-time. The Blue Tigresses came out for the second half with renewed intent and they got the second goal in the 58th minute as Timor-Leste goalkeeper misjudged a cross and Tamang finished off the chance.

Manisha then completed her brace with a thunderous shot that made Da Costa just a bystander in the 80th minute as India sealed the deal. The Blue Tigresses were able to put in the finishing touches in the 86th minute as substitutes Lynda Kom and Grace Dangmei unlocked the defence. Grace drew the defenders towards her and then slipped in a pass to Lynda, who calmly slotted it home.

With the win, India now sit on top of Group B with six points from two games, ahead of Iraq and Thailand, who will face each other later on Sunday.