India 4-0 Lebanon Highlights, AFC U‑17 Women’s Asian Cup: Young Tigresses Win Big To Boost Qualification Hopes

Good afternoon, football fans! This is the start of our live blog covering India’s AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup match against Lebanon. Stay tuned for pre-match updates and line-ups as they are released.

• Fixture: India vs Lebanon

• Series: AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup 2026

• Venue: Suzhou Taihu Football Sports Centre, China

• Date: Friday, May 8, 2026

• Time: 1:00 PM IST

Starting XI: Munni (gk), Elizabed Lakra (c), Divyani Linda, Thandamoni Baskey, Julan Nongmaithem, Anushka Kumari, Ritu Badaik, Pritika Barman, Redima Devi Chingkhamayum, Abishta Basnett, Alva Devi Senjam.

Bench: Tamphasana Devi (gk), Surajmuni Kumari (gk), Alena Devi Sarangthem, Taniya Devi Tonambam, Pearl Fernandes, Olivia Chanu Ningthoujam, Valaina Jada, Joyshini Chanu, Alisha Lyngdoh, Anwita Raghuraman, Joya, Bonifilia Shullai.

Starting XI: Marie Joe Chebly (gk), Yasmina Nassar, Christina Chebly, Joya Bou Assaf, Gianna Frangieh, Gaelle Abou Malhab, Sara Karnib, Sara Issa, Yara Geitani, Anabel Rafka Zihenni, Avy Bakhous Douaihy.

Bench: Ghinwa Karam (gk), Nourhan Rafeh (gk), Calima Osman, Yasmin El Haffar El Habbal, Yara Abi Fadel, Rama Kharroubi, Zahra Assad, Layane Kalkas, Marita Chebly, Angy Boustany, Esraa Jaafar Hamzeh, Rama Moghrabi.

India currently have a -5 goal difference in Group B. In Group C, Philippines (-13) and Chinese Taipei (-14) are in action, and barring a huge win for either side, India will go through as one of the two best third-placed teams. In Group A, Vietnam and Myanmar are playing. If that match ends in a draw or if Myanmar win by less than three goals, India will go through with a win, irrespective of the results in Group C.

The players are out on the pitch. After the national anthems and the handshakes, both sides take their places. Referee Sunita Thongthawin blows her whistle, and it's India who take the kick off to get today's Group B match underway.

What a goal by Pritika Barman to put India ahead so early!! After being fed the ball by Divyani, the winger held off the pressure from her marker before cutting inside. She drops her shoulder to get past Nassar before beating the goalkeeper with a fine finish.

What a chance for India to double their lead!! It's Pritika at the heart of it again, with the winger cutting it back for Anushka. Her weak shot is deflected back into the path of Julan, who blasts it wide over the bar from close range.

A double chance for Pritika to score her second goal! A long ball picks out the winger in the box, and she tries to beat the goalkeeper at her near post. Chebly makes a fine save, and then makes another to deny the rebound shot.

Almost half an hour of football has been played, and it has been all India so far. The Young Tigresses float in a free-kick from the left that is not properly cleared by Lebanon. It falls to Divyani, who opts for a shot from distance that goes harmlessly wide.

Alva Devi doubles India's lead with a great strike!! A good through ball from Redima finds the run of Alva, who goes past Frangieh with ease before beating the goalkeeper and finding the far corner with a low shot.

With India pushing hard for a third goal before half-time, the fourth official announces a minimum of three minutes to be added on.

The referee blows her whistle to bring the first half to an end. It has been a very good performance from the Young Tigresses, who lead by two goals and are in a good position to secure qualification to the knockouts.

The players return to the pitch for the second half. Lebanon, trailing by two goals, take the kick off to get the next 45 minutes underway. No changes at the break for either side as far as I can see.

The first shot on target in the second half comes from India. A good run by Basnett finds Julan, who tees up a teammate. The resulting shot from 35 yards out is goalbound, but it's an easy grab for the goalkeeper.

Despite a strong tackle by Lebanon on Julan, India continue with the ball. Pritika lays it off for Anushka on the right, who lets fly with venom. However, the shot is saved by the goalkeeper.

Lebanon break with pace at the other end. El Habbal does well to hold off the pressure by the defender, but before she can pull the trigger, Munni gets a touch on the ball. It falls kindly for Issa, but her goalbound effort is brilliantly cleared off the line by Divyani.

India might be ahead in the contest, but they are not putting their foot off the gas. A cross by Badaik is not cleared properly by Lebanon, but the Indian full-back commits a foul at the edge of the box. India come again soon after, and Pritika's shot is saved by the goalkeeper.

Joya adds a third for India!! Lebanon lose posession in their own half, and Alva tees up Joya on the left flank. The winger does brilliantly to cut inside past two defenders before delightfully chipping over Chebly to find the back of the net.

Credit to India, they are still continuing with the onslaught on the Lebanese goal. The ball is played from the left flank to Redima, but her left-footed effort is always swinging wide and goes miles past the post. Still, the effort will please head coach Pamela Conti.

Pritika scores her second goal of the day to put India well and truly sure of the victory. It was a magnificent run from the young winger, who worked her way into the box from the right flank, waving past a horde of bodies before finding the bottom corner with a composed finish.

After four minutes of stoppage time, the referee looks at her watch and blows the full time whistle to bring the match to an end. It has been a brilliant performance from India, who have set themselves up with a very good chance of qualifying to the knockouts.