India U-17 Women 14-0 Iraq: Young Tigresses Make Record-Breaking Start to Asian Cup Qualifiers

India’s U-17 women’s team began their AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers campaign with a statement that could hardly have been louder.

The Young Tigresses demolished Iraq 14-0 at the MP Selayang Stadium in Selayang, Malaysia, on Monday, October 5, producing their biggest-ever victory at this age-group level. The result surpassed their previous record wins of 12-0 against the UAE in 2014 and Sri Lanka in 2018. 

The victory was not merely about the margin. India dominated possession, territory and the rhythm of the match, repeatedly stretching Iraq with quick combinations and attacks from the flanks. By half-time, the contest was effectively over, with India leading 7-0. Anushka Kumari led the scoring with five goals, while Silky Devi Sorokhaibam scored twice, as did captain and centre-back Abhista Basnett. Thandamoni Baskey, Nira Chanu Longjam, Pritika Barman, Joya Kabul Hasan and Alva Devi Senjam also found the net.

India needed only nine minutes to open the scoring, and Anushka quickly established herself as the central figure in the attacking display. She struck again in the 12th minute before Thandamoni Baskey made it 3-0 in the 14th. The pressure did not relent.

Silky Devi Sorokhaibam added two goals in the 21st and 30th minutes, marking her first international goals at this level. Anushka completed her first-half hat-trick in the 39th minute before Nira Chanu Longjam made it 7-0 in the 42nd. The attacking numbers told only part of the story.

India's midfield, built around compact positioning and quick distribution, repeatedly prevented Iraq from settling into the match. Rather than relying exclusively on individual runs, the Young Tigresses used the width of the pitch to pull apart the Iraqi defensive structure before looking for passes into the penalty area.

Redima Devi Chingkhamayum was particularly influential in creating width, while Thandamoni, Silky and Alva Devi Senjam repeatedly helped move the ball into dangerous areas. The result was a first half in which Iraq struggled to maintain possession for any meaningful period.

India showed no signs of taking their foot off the accelerator after the interval. Just two minutes after the restart, Anushka scored her fourth, converting a cross from Alva Devi Senjam to make it 8-0. Substitute Pritika Barman then made an immediate impact. After coming on at half-time, she followed up a rebound from substitute goalkeeper Asmaa Shivan Ahmed to make it 9-0. Iraq's goalkeeper subsequently made several saves to prevent the scoreline from becoming even more emphatic.

Then came an unexpected interruption. After 64 minutes, the players were taken off because of deteriorating weather conditions. The match resumed approximately 30 minutes later, but the break did little to alter India's momentum. If anything, the Young Tigresses adapted more quickly to the wet conditions.

Captain Abhista Basnett, operating from centre-back, added an attacking dimension to the final stages. She rose above the defence to meet Ritu Badaik's dipping corner and headed India into double figures.

Anushka then completed a remarkable individual performance with her fifth goal, placing the ball home from just outside the penalty area. At 11-0, India were already heading towards a record scoreline.Joya Kabul Hasan was presented with an empty net after Pritika rounded the goalkeeper and squared the ball across the box, taking the score to 12-0.

Basnett then scored her second of the afternoon, again converting from a Ritu corner. India had equalled their previous U-17 record. But there was still time for one more.

In stoppage time, Yashica Haribabu's free-kick struck the crossbar before Basnett's follow-up effort dropped into the six-yard box. Alva Devi Senjam reacted first and headed the ball into the net to complete the 14-0 scoreline.

Alexandersson's System Produces Results

The result was also a strong early indication of the tactical principles introduced by head coach Joakim Alexandersson. India entered the qualifiers after several months of preparation. The squad began its camp in Bengaluru in July before playing two goalless friendlies against Uzbekistan and then splitting two matches against the Philippines losing 2-4 before winning the second 2-0. All India Football Federation

The extended preparation was designed around technical quality, speed of play, organization, and communication. Against Iraq, those elements came together. India's movement without the ball constantly created passing options, while the team's pressing and close marking denied Iraq the time needed to build attacks.

The defense, meanwhile, had remarkably little to do a consequence of India's control further up the pitch. Anushka was named Player of the Match, but the performance was ultimately a collective one.

The 14-0 victory puts India in an excellent position, but the qualification equation remains straightforward: only the Group E winner will advance to the AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup China 2027. India are in the group alongside Iraq, Syria and hosts Malaysia. The Young Tigresses next face Syria on October 8 at 1:30 PM IST, before meeting Malaysia on October 11 at 6:30 PM IST. The objective is therefore bigger than the record.

India are attempting to qualify for consecutive AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cups for the first time, having reached the quarter-finals in the previous edition their best-ever finish in the competition. 

Against Iraq, they made the perfect opening statement. Now comes the harder task: maintaining that level when the opposition becomes stronger and the margin for error disappears.