Home ›› 17 Sep 2022 ›› Sport
Bangladesh head coach Golam Rabbani Choton promised to come at Bhutan with everything and his troops held up their end of the bargain as the women in red and green delivered an 8-0 mauling to Bhutan in the first semi-final of the Women’s SAFF Championship 2022 at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Friday.
The win guaranteed Bangladesh’s place in the final for the second time in history.
Bangladesh skipper Sabina Khatun, who already holds the record for the most international goals for the country (across gender), scored a hat-trick to lead Bangladesh into the grand finale on Monday.
Forwards Mosammat Jahan Shopna, Srimoti Sarker, and Ritu Porna Chakma found the net, while Masura Parvin and Tohura Khatun also got on the scoresheet.
Bangladesh were the favourites going into the contest, and they sure played like it. Straight from the outset, they looked to attack, which brought them early results as they scored in the second minute when Shopna finished a spearing through ball by midfielder Monika Chakma.
For the second, Sabina took it past the keeper and rolled it in an empty net in the 16th minute. This time, it was Monika’s partner in midfield, Maria Manda, who delivered a lobbed ball behind the back line to assist the striker.
Bangladesh scored in each of the first 10 minutes of the first half. The two strikers had already put their names on the scoresheet and then it was Srimoti’s turn. She headed in a swooping left-footed cross by substitute Ritu to make it 3-0 in the 30th minute.
After assisting one, Ritu managed to find the net five minutes later. The winger took it past the keeper and picked her spot with ease.
Bhutan captain Pena Choden hoped to give a worthy fight but failed to match Bangladesh in any area, especially in the midfield, where the Bangladeshi duo of Monika and Maria dominated in chance creation and gave strict control. The double pivot, throughout the competition, has been the engine of the team as they have expertly driven the progression of attacks and made numerous recoveries, allowing Bangladesh to make quick transitions.
Nine minutes after the restart, Sabina was at it again as she coolly finished a low cross from substitute Dular Marandi. Top-scorer Sabina netted her third in the 92nd minute, taking her tournament tally to eight goals as she completed her second hat-trick.
Before that, defender Masura Parvin pounced on a fumble by the Bhutan keeper from a corner in the 57th minute, and Tohura Parvin did the same when the keeper failed to hold on to a cross.
After the enthralling performance, Choton gave the credit to his players and revealed that he only had the thought of winning the match.
“I would like to give the credit to my players. Every department did their job properly. We knew that if we can get a goal in the first 15 minutes, it would get easier. I never thought about the number of goals. I knew goals would come if we continued to play our game. I only thought about winning the semi-final,” he said.
Hat-trick heroine Sabina assured that people would soon forget the 2016 scenario of Bangladesh Women’s football because of the development they have managed to bring in performances as well as the style of Bangladesh Women’s football. On Friday, she said that their performances in the ongoing competition prove they have come a long way.
“Our performance is a testament to the fact that Bangladesh Women’s football is developing,” she said.
“We are very happy. Our target was to reach the final and we’ve achieved it,” she added.
Bangladesh Men’s national team defender Tariq Kazi congratulated the Women’s team and hoped the women would bring the trophy home.
“First of all, congratulations to the Bangladesh women’s team for their win against Bhutan today. It’s a huge achievement and I would like to wish the women good luck for the final. Hope you bring that trophy home for Bangladesh,” he said.
