Their dominating 2-0 victory against the Asian rivals in Gold City complex in Alanya, Turkey, kept them on course for the Turkish Women’s Cup title with full six points from their two matches.
Anju Tamang and Soumya Guguloth finally got their names on the scoresheet after failing to do so against Estonia in the opener as Chaoba Singh’s team await a clash with second-placed Kosovo in what could serve as the final of the round robin tournament.
Kosovo, the 100th team on FIFA women’s rankings, too, have collected six points from their two games leaving the fans to wait for the title-deciding India-Kosovo fixture. However, India are second on the group table, behind Kosovo, who are ahead by virtue of a better goal difference.
Earlier, India began to take control of the game after the opening 15 minutes and broke the deadlock in the 19th minute courtesy a defensive error from Hong Kong skipper Ching Yee Sin outside the box. Manisha Kalyan snatched the ball from the indecisive rival captain and played it to Anju, who took a step past the goalkeeper and scored from a narrow angle.
India looked to gain in control as the game progressed with the Ashala Devi-led defence maintaining composure at the back after letting in three goals against Estonia.
After the change of ends, India began with the eagerness to find a second goal and Manisha hit the crossbar and Anju almost got the ball past the Hong Kong custodian with a great run before the first 15 minutes of the second half.
However, Choaba’s women had to wait till the 79th minute to find another breakthrough against the 79th-ranked opposition. E Panthoi Chanu — chosen by Chaoba over Shreya Hooda for the game — sent a long ball up field to Pyari Xaxa. She headed it in the path of an onrushing Soumya, who ran past the goalkeeper and slipped it into the goal with a flick of her right foot.
