India Vs Timor Leste Highlights, AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers: Manisha Kalyan Brace Seals IND 4–0 Win Over TLS

Hello and welcome to the start of our live blog on the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 qualifying clash between India and Timor Leste at Chiang Mai. The action in Thailand kicks off at 2:30 PM IST, so stay tuned for pre-match updates and lineups as they are released.

The match will be live-streamd on the Thai Women’s Football Facebook page, and the Changsuek YouTube channel for free.

“Timor Leste are a better organised team than Mongolia, and I feel they are better organised defensively than Iraq as well. They prefer going for counter-attacks. They don’t mind keeping the ball either.

“So, in patches, they are good. But as Thailand dominated the (opening) match completely, we can’t say much about their attack. But they have got pace in their team as well.”

India: Panthoi Chanu (gk), Sweety Devi, Nirmala Devi, Shilky Devi Hemam, Sangita Basfore (c), Ratanbala Devi, Sanju, Anju Tamang, Pyari Xaxa, Manisha Kalyan, Soumya Guguloth

Timor Leste: Maria Auxiliadora da Conceicao, Idalia Alves Belo, Brigida, Godelivia F. Mesquita Martins, Dolores (c), Sonia Gomes Amaral, Deonizia Natalina, Gorette da Costa, Juleica Silva da Costa, Astari Wiwit Songge, Isabelita Marques da Silva

Lebanese goalkeeper Doumoukh Albakkar blows her whistle, and the match is underway at Chiang Mai. IND-W have a fairly attacking lineup today, so will we see a repeat of a one-sided thrashing as we say in the last match against Mongolia?

IND 0-0 TLS (0’)

A very attacking start from India, even if the players are a bit sloppy on the ball at the moment. East Timor are struggling to string even two passes together at the moment. Xaxa had an early chance after a terrific first touch on a lofted pass, but her left footer went wide off the near post.

IND 0-0 TLS (4’)

It’s all too easy for a player of the calibre of Manisha Kalyan. The PAOK player receives the ball on the right flank and beats her marker to cut inside, and then, under absolutely no pressure from the Timorese defenders, shoots with her left and finds the back of the net.

IND 1-0 TLS (12’)

Oooooh! That could have been one of the goals of the tournament. Pyari Xaxa receives the ball, and, with limited support available, shoots from 20 yards out. It somehow is on target, but it hits the left post and bounces back on to the face of the goalkeeper, who is diving at full stretch. Luckily for Timor Leste, it bounces out.

IND 1-0 LST (17’)

So far, it has been a really sloppy match from both sides, Manisha’s goal notwithstanding. The passing accuracy is nothing to write home about, and the Indian goalkeeper has not seen one bit of action in the half-an-hour of football played so far.

IND 1-0 TLS (30’)

India are turning the heat up on the right! Manisha Kalyan is everywhere, zipping down the flank like she owns the turf, linking up smartly with the midfield, trying to pull the strings in attack.

But Timor-Leste? They’ve set up camp with not one, but two solid walls of four. No entry, no nonsense. Every Indian move is met with a stubborn block. Still 1–0 to India, but this one’s simmering nicely.

Soumya spotted a gap and off she went down the right, full of energy, full of purpose. Pyari was making the run in the middle, the move was on but just as Soumya looked to square it, Timor-Leste’s right wing-back swooped in, right place, right time.

The pass didn’t come off, and India are left thinking what could’ve been. Still, good signs.

India carry a one-goal cushion into the break after Manisha Kalyan’s early strike lit things up. They've had plenty of chances to build on it, but a mix of rash finishing and solid Timor-Leste defending has kept the gap at one. Manisha and Soumya Guguloth have looked sharp, while Pyari Xaxa and Anju Tamang are still trying to get going. Second half promises more action.

We’re back underway for the second half. India hold a slender lead, can they build on it or will Timor-Leste find a way back in? Let’s find out.

That’s number two for India, and it’s as smooth as it gets! Sanju swings in a teasing cross from the left, it beats the keeper at the near post, zipping right across the face of goal.

And who's waiting at the far post? Anju Tamang taps it into an empty net. The crowd is on its feet, the bench is buzzing, and India now have a firm grip on this match. Timor-Leste have some serious chasing to do.

Manisha Kalyan is flying down the left, beating defenders for fun. The crosses are coming in thick and fast, not quite found a target yet, but she’s looking dangerous every time she touches the ball. India still 2–0 up.

India are flying now! It all started with Lynda Kom, who pounced on a loose ball in midfield and drove the play forward. She picked out Anju Tamang just outside the box, and Anju wasted no time slipping a clever pass into space.

Manisha Kalyan was waiting, wide open, and this time she made no mistake, a thumping finish at the near post, giving the keeper no chance. That’s her second of the night, and India are now cruising at 3–0.

Lynda Kom gets her moment. She finds herself in acres of space as Malavika slips her a tidy cut-back after weaving past two defenders. No pressure, no fuss, Lynda keeps it low and tucks it past the keeper. That’s her first of the tournament, and India are running away with this.

The board goes up, four more minutes for Timor-Leste to endure and for India to maybe find one more. They’re 4–0 up, cruising, and not done just yet.

India cruised to their second straight win, beating Timor-Leste 4–0 to go top of the table. Manisha Kalyan opened the scoring and added another in the second half, with Anju Tamang and Lynda Kom also getting on the scoresheet. Late substitutions added energy, helping India pull away with two late goals. With six points from two games, India now gear up for key clashes against Iraq and Thailand.

That's all from this match. We'll see you all with another live blog, until then, bye bye!