Bangladesh girls continued their brilliant run in the Saff U-15 Women's Championship as they thrashed host Bhutan 5-0 in the second semi-final at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu Thursday. In the process, the young girls in red and green qualified for the final where they will face India Saturday at the same venue.
In the first semi-final earlier Thursday, India edged Nepal 2-1.
Bangladesh are the reigning champion after winning the inaugural edition last year at home. Saturday's grand finale will be a repeat of the 2017 final while Nepal will face Bhutan in the third place decider on the same day.
The third place playoff will kick off at 4pm while the final will begin at 7pm, Bangladesh standard time.
Bangladesh went 3-0 ahead in the first half as the prolific Anai Mogini, Anuching Mogini and diminutive Tahura Khatun scored in the 18th, 38th and 43rd minute respectively. The girls in red and green added two more in the second half to complete the rout, Maria Manda and Shaheda Akter Ripa netting in the 69th and 86th minute respectively.
Just like their opening match of the tournament where Bangladesh thrashed Pakistan 14-0, the girls in red and green dominated Bhutan, registering 22 shots on target. The home side however, were not able to post a single shot on target, such was the dominance of the visiting side.
Bangladesh had four shots off target and seven corner kicks while Bhutan had none to their name in both the categories.
Meanwhile in the other semi, India went 1-0 ahead through Lynda Kom, who scored in the 31st minute. Nepal soon brought parity in the 37th minute, Rajani Thokar netting from open play. India though made it 2-1 at the stroke of the hour mark through Kritina Devi, who scored in the 59th minute.
Bangladesh will no doubt start as strong favourite in the final against India and will eye a repeat performance from the final of the same tournament last year at home where the girls in red and green recorded a 1-0 win.
RESULTS
Bangladesh U-15 5 (Anai 18, Anuching 38, Tahura 43, Maria 69, Ripa 86) 0 Bhutan U-15
India U-15 2 (Lynda 31, Devi 59) 1 Nepal U-15 (Rajani 37)
Bangladesh Match stats Bhutan
22 Shots on target 0
4 Shots off target 0
7 Corners 0
6 Fouls committed 2