The girls in red and green are not only unbeaten in the event but have scored 18 goals in three matches without conceding any.
Both the sides have nine points from three matches and if the home side can manage to beat their today’s opponents, there will not be any tougher obstacle on their way to the final round of the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship in Thailand next year.
Ahead of the vital game, Bangladesh’s main concern could be their back-five as they have rarely been tested in the first three matches where the hosts dominated thoroughly. The situation is however, almost the same for Chinese Taipei, who also went on to win comfortably.
That is why, may be, Bangladesh head coach Golam Rabbani Choton has been giving his goalkeeper and defenders extra concentration in the practice sessions after Wednesday’s game against Kyrgyzstan. Choton believes facing one of the favourites Iran in the first game had already tested his defenders a little bit compared to Chinese Taipei, who are yet to face Iran.
Choton is likely to make two changes to the squad from the previous game. With already a yellow card to her name, defender Masura Parvin was rested against Kyrgyzstan but is set to start against Chinese Taipei along with Shamsunnahar, Sheuli Azim and Nargis Khatun.
Experienced striker Sirat Jahan Shopna, who started the first two matches but was on the bench against Kyrgyzstan, may also return to the starting XI as Choton hinted, but then again it will be interesting to see how in-form Anuching Mogini, who netted four goals, is accommodated in the squad.
Maria Manda and Moushumi Jahan will take care of the midfield but the performance of star winger Sanjida Akhter and captain Krishna Rani Sarkar may decide the fate of the game. Krishna has been in tremendous form, scoring five so far, including a hattrick in the last match. Choton admitted that he had to take off Sanjida earlier against Kyrgyzstan as the Chinese Taipei coach was watching the game. It means Sanjida has a key role to play today.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
