Astam, Aveka, Selladurai net one goal each to beat Malawi 3-2
New Delhi: India secured third place in the FIFA Series Kenya 2026 with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Malawi in the play-off match at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on Wednesday.
Astam Oraon (18th), Aveka Singh (45+1) and substitute Priyadharshini Selladurai (84th) scored for India, while Khumalo Ireen (42nd) and Henry Deborah (60th) were on target for Malawi.
India took the lead in the 18th minute when Astam Oraon capitalised on a defensive lapse to score her maiden international goal. Malawi responded in the 42nd minute through a well-taken free-kick by Khumalo Ireen. However, India regained the lead in first-half stoppage time as Aveka Singh finished off a move from close range, also opening her account for the national team.
Malawi equalised again in the 60th minute with Henry Deborah finding the net following a corner. With the match heading towards a shootout, Priyadharshini Selladurai struck the winner in the 84th minute, cutting inside before finishing clinically to seal the contest.
India, who had lost 0-2 to hosts Kenya in the semi-finals, held on to their advantage in the closing stages to complete a third-place finish.
