Home ›› 11 Sep 2022 ›› Sport
Bangladesh Women’s national football team had a goal galore starring a hat-trick from skipper Sabina Khatun against Pakistan on Saturday as the women in red and green delivered a 6-0 mauling in their second match of the Women’s SAFF Championship 2022 at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Besides Sabina, whose hat-trick took her tally to five goals for the tournament, Monika Chakma, Mosammat Jahan Shopna, and Ritu Chakma also found the net against Pakistan.
Midfielder Monika opened the scoring in the third minute. Bangladesh were relentless in pinning back the opposition in the opening minutes, and the result came when an interception came to Monika’s path. The midfielder didn’t think twice before curling in a low effort around the defender and into the far post from the edge of the box.
Before the match, the players and management alike promised more goals but similar to the first match against Maldives, Bangladesh created a hoard of opportunities but failed to apply clinical blows.
After several minutes of progressive possession, Bangladesh finally managed to double the lead in the 28th minute. It was Monika again with the goods. She combined in a sleek move with Sabina, who threaded a needling pass to send Shopna through on goal, and the striker made no mistake as she squeezed it past the keeper.
Golam Rabbani’s troops were hungry for more and the captain led from the front as she netted two more before half-time.
In the 31st minute, Sabina capitalised on a failed clearance by the defender inside the box as she toed it in, and four minutes later she was there again to nestle one in from a cross by right-winger Sanjida as Bangladesh led Pakistan 4-0 at half time.
Bangladesh came back with the same intensity in the second half as well.
Monika’s stellar afternoon continued as she swooped in a curling cross from the right flank for Sabina to head it in. The skipper completed her hat-trick and delivered a five-star performance.
The Bangladesh women still had gas for one more goal and it seemed that the best strike was left for last. In the 77th minute, substitute Ritu Chakma drove a left-footed strike from 35 yards to find the top corner.
Hat-trick hero Sabina, after the match, said that she believes in her team to produce good performances to go further in the competition.
“It feels good. Our target was to win the match and we have done it. India and Nepal are tough oppositions but we have a target and a style of play. Hopefully, we can produce good performances and go further in the tournament,” she said.
Bangladesh head coach Golam Rabbani thanked his team for putting out a high-intensity performance in an important match.
“I would like to thank the girls. They played an excellent match. They kept up the same intensity for the whole 90 minutes. It was challenging for us because it was an important match for our road to the semifinals,” he said.
Bangladesh will take on five-time champions India on Tuesday at the same venue.
