First win since 2005: India reaches the knockout stages of the U-17 Asia Cup for the first time in 21 years

India kept their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals alive with a 4-0 win over Lebanon in the final Group B match of the AFC Women’s Under-17 Asian Cup at the Taihu Football Sports Center in Suzhou, China on Friday.Pritika Barman scored twice in the 6th and 85th minutes, while Alva Devi Senjam and Joya also scored for India.

Pritika scored two goals in attack to help India win the World Cup for the first time since 2005.The result strengthens India’s chances of reaching the quarter-finals as one of the two best third-placed teams. India is close to qualifying for the knockout stages for the first time in 21 years.The results showed that the Philippine team needed to beat the Chinese Taipei team with a 12-goal advantage, while the Chinese Taipei team needed a 13-goal advantage to win.The Indian team made some changes compared to the previous game, with Kumari replacing Fernandez, and the game started on the attack.Divyani Linda sent a long pass forward from the right back and Pritika controlled the ball before getting past Lebanese defender Joya Bou Assaf. Pritika then gave India the lead when she beat goalkeeper Mary Jo Chebli with a left-footed shot.India almost scored again when Anushka found space inside the box, but Mary made the save.Pritika continued to cause problems for the Lebanese defense and almost scored her second goal in the 16th minute, but the goalkeeper once again blocked her shot.Redima Devi Chingkhamayum passed the ball to Alva on the edge of the box, who slotted past Gianna Frangieh and scored to give India a 2-0 lead at half-time.India continued to attack in the second half and continued to put pressure on the Lebanese team. The Cubs controlled possession for long periods of time and created chances from the wings.Their third goal came from De La Hoya, who caught the ball on the left, past two defenders, and fired in with his right foot to make it 3-0.Pritika scored the second goal of the match and India secured victory. She burst into the penalty area from the right wing and passed Mary to make the score 4-0.