Blue Tigresses crush Mongolia, but Chettri sees room to grow

India thrashed Mongolia 13-0 in their biggest AFC Women’s Cup win, yet coach Crispin Chettri believes the team can improve ahead of crucial qualifiers, including the clash with hosts Thailand

Hyderabad: June 23 turned out to be a record-breaking day for the Indian women’s national team as it scored its biggest win in an official AFC match. It was also the fourth-biggest victory margin in the Blue Tigresses’ history.

Just six months ago in Bengaluru, India defeated Maldives 14-0 in a friendly. Maldives were also on the receiving end of a 15-0 loss to India in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon. But the biggest win remains the 18-0 mauling of Bhutan in the 2010 SAFF Championship.

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Despite Monday’s 13-0 defeat of Mongolia being India’s record-breaker in an AFC Women’s Asian Cup (qualifiers and finals), coach Crispin Chettri affirmed that his side have the potential to play even better.

“Sometimes, you don’t have to look at scorelines. You need to move on. We just need to do our job, and that is to score goals. I know scoring is not always easy, no matter who the opponents are. At the same time, we must be more clinical, more professional, and finish whatever chances come our way. We can be much better, I know,” Chettri explained.

But that isn’t to say Chettri was not delighted with the result. The Blue Tigresses began their hunt for the ticket to Australia next year in the best manner, already boosting their goal difference in a group where only the toppers will qualify — and it might come down to the final day when India take on the hosts Thailand on July 5.

“I know the first match is always difficult. But at the same time, we showed character and scored goals, many more in the second half, so I’m really happy with our performance,” he said.

Chettri’s girls took their time to find the perfect rhythm and only scored four in the first 45 minutes. The rugged and slippery pitch didn’t help either, but when they finally got into top gear, goals came from left, right and centre.

Pyari Xaxa contributed five of the first six, and three of those were assisted by Grace Dangmei, whose performance might have gone a bit under the radar since she didn’t score until the 12th — from the spot. Soumya Guguloth was a terrific dribbler as usual on both flanks — her crisp left-footed volley perhaps one of the best goals the Blue Tigresses have scored in recent times. Meanwhile, the Mongolia full-backs were left huffing and puffing trying to chase the minuscule Rimpa Haldar throughout the 90 minutes.

With five days until the next match versus Timor-Leste, who drew goalless with Iraq in their first game, there are a few things Chettri and his coaching staff will work on.