High-flying Bangladesh U-20 women's team opened their AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup qualifiers campaign with a dominating 4-0 win over Turkmenistan at Birshrestha Shaheed Sepahi Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Dhaka Friday.
Striker Aklima Khatun and midfielder Shopna Rani netted a brace each to secure all three points in Group H of the first round qualifiers.
This team clinched the Saff U-20 Women's Championship title as unbeaten champions after beating Nepal in the final at the same venue last month.
The hosts started the match without forward Shamsunnahar Jr, who was the captain, best player and top scorer of the Saff U-20 tournament.
Goalkeeper Rupna Chakma received the captain's armband and managed to keep another clean sheet against a side whose players are physically taller and stronger but couldn't create a single chance.
Airin Khatun began the game in the place of Shamsunnahar at the forward line alongside Shaheda Akter Ripa and Aklima.
Bangladesh dominated the game from the very beginning and enjoyed possession at opponents' half most of the time but it took them more than 45 minutes to open the scoring.
Aklima squandered a good opportunity in the 20th minute with a weak shot straight to the keeper in a one-on-one situation while Ripa saw her effort from just outside the box go wide at the half-hour mark.
Aklima finally broke the deadlock in the added time of first half from a goal-mouth scramble followed by Shopna's corner.
Bangladesh continued to threaten the opponents after the break as Aklima doubled the lead in the 71st minute with a volley from close range following Eity Khatun's cross.
Shopna scored both her goals in the space of only two minutes.
She headed home from six-yard box following a cross of Eity in the 80th minute before adding other when Turkmenistan defence couldn't clear her long range effort that bounced into the net.
Turkmenistan earlier lost 7-1 to Iran in the opening game of the group last Wednesday and crashed out of the qualifiers after the latest defeat.
Bangladesh and Iran will lock horns with each other in the last group phase match Sunday where the home side must win to advance to the second round.
RESULT
Bangladesh U-20 women 4 (Aklima 45+2, 71, Shopna 80, 81) Turkmenistan U-20 women 0