India outplays Chinese Taipei to secure their first win in AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup 2026

India beat Chinese Taipei with a scoreline of 3-1

India outplayed Chinese Taipei 3-1 to claim their first AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Thailand 2026 Group C win at the Pathum Thani Stadium on Wednesday.

Joakim Alexandersson’s side, however, will have to wait for the deciding Group B match between Uzbekistan and Jordan later on Wednesday to confirm a quarter-final stage spot as one of the two best third-placed teams. If there is a draw in that match, India will progress to the next stage of the tournament.

A solid display of football in the first half

Chinese Taipei’s Liao Jie-Ning had the first shot at goal in the second minute when she came down the left unchecked, but the midfielder dragged her shot wide of the right post from the edge of the area.

The East Asian side’s forward momentum left gaps in their defence, allowing India’s Anju Chanu and Sulanjana Raul to both rattle keeper Jian Yu-Jie within the span of a minute, while Lhingdeikim Kipgen ghosted past the defence in the 15th minute only to volley straight at the custodian.

Liao forced a great save from India’s second-choice keeper Ribansi Jamu in the 20th minute when she capitalised on consecutive defensive errors to fire from inside the area, with Jamu instinctively reaching out and pushing her shot away.

India’s persistence paid off in the 26th minute as Bhumika Khumukcham’s shot from outside the six-yard area took a deflection off forward Huang I-Pin and, with Jian caught off-position, crashed into the top left corner.

Sibani Devi needed no assistance, however, in doubling India’s advantage eight minutes later  when off a cross by Shubhangi Singh, she burst down the left and fought off a helpless Huang for the ball before sending a brilliant first-timer past a diving Jian.

Jamu made another fine save in the 40th minute by tipping over skipper Li Chun-Mei’s thunderous free-kick from 35 yards out to maintain her side’s two-goal lead going into the break.

Sibani makes it three for India

Chinese Taipei laid siege on India’s goalmouth in the second half but Fu Chih-Ling, Chuan Tzu-Yu and Lo Yu-Hsiu all failed to convert their chances while Thoibisana Chanu and Devi squandered their attempts at the other end.

Jian made timely saves from Pooja, Devi and Neha Sillay to prevent India from extending their lead, but the South Asian side sealed the win when they were awarded a 87th-minute penalty for Lin Pin-Hsin’s handball, with Devi making no mistake from the spot.  

Chinese Taipei pulled one back three minutes into stoppage time through forward Kao Hsin, but it proved too little, too late.

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