The Indian football team topped Group B of the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 after defeating defending champions Bangladesh 3-0 at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa, on Sunday.
Pyari Xaxa (36′), Lynda Kom (78′) and Malavika P (90+1′) scored the goals for world No. 69 India, who dominated the Maldives 11-0 in their season opener earlier this week.
Yet to concede a single goal this campaign, India – record five-time SAFF Women’s Championship winners – will face Group A runners-up Bhutan in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
World No. 112 Bangladesh, who won the last two editions, will play Group A winners Nepal in the other semis fixture. It’ll be a repeat of the last edition’s final.
The opening half saw both football teams enjoy their fair share of chances in front of goal but it was the hosts who managed to capitalise. Pyari Xaxa clinically curled one into the far corner to score her 20th international goal.
When the half-time whistle sounded ten minutes later, Pyari’s classy strike was the only thing differentiating the two teams on the scoresheet.
With Bangladesh taking more risks in the quest of an equaliser in the second-half, India looked comfortable sitting back and looking for counterattacking opportunities.
India made a double change just after the hour-mark with Malavika P coming on for goal scorer Pyari Xaxa and Lynda Kom replacing Aveka Singh, who scored four goals for the Blue Tigresses in the opener against Maldives.
The two substitutes combined for India’s second goal. After Surma Jannat brought Malavika down inside the penalty area, Lynda Kom stepped up to convert the penalty and give India a two-goal cushion in the contest.
Malavika then got on the scoresheet herself in added time as she showcased some deft control in a tight area before slotting in. The win also marked the Indian women’s football team’s first victory over Bangladesh since 2019 in three matches.
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