Star Bangladesh forward Sabina Khatun in action COURTESYStriker Sabina, who four goals past Afghanistan in their first group stage match, took her goal-tally to seven from three matches while she assisted two of Shopna's three goals on Monday. Sabina had also netted twice against Maldives in the 2014 Saff Championship.
Bangladesh faced India before in the group stage where their goalkeeper and Sabina helped their side earn their first ever point against their neighbour. The result also allowed Bangladesh to topple the reigning champion on their way to becoming Group B champion. They earlier thumped Afghanistan 6-0 in their first match.
Before Monday's thrashing, Bangladesh encountered Maldives only once in the competition and that was in the previous edition in Pakistan two years ago where they comfortably won the game 3-1. The two sides also played each other in the last South Asian Games in 2015 where star U-16 midfielder Krishna Rani Sarkar's brace helped Bangladesh to a comfortable 2-0 win.
Bangladesh are now more confident after the U-16 girls’ unprecedented success in the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship qualifiers.RESULTBangladesh 6 (Shopna 12, 23, 56, Sabina 48, 58, Nargis 52) 0 MaldivesA confident Bangladesh women's team handed Maldives a crushing 6-0 defeat in the second semi-final of the 2016 South Asian Football Federation Women's Championship at Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri, India on Monday. In the process, they reached the final of the competition for the very first time in history.
The women in red and green will meet three-time champion India in the grand finale, scheduled to be held on Wednesday at the same venue. India outplayed Nepal 3-1 in the day's other semi-final to reach the final for the fourth time in succession.
Forward Sirat Jahan Shopna netted a brace in the opening half to set the foundation for the historic win before completing her hattrick in the second half. Bangladesh head coach Golam Rabbani Choton and assistant coach Mahbubur Rahman Litu earlier hinted of adopting an attacking strategy against Maldives and they started as planned.
Shopna, who featured in Bangladesh's historic display in the Asian Football Confederation's under-16 Women’s Championship qualifiers in September last year, put her side ahead with only 11 minutes into the clock before doubling the lead in the 22nd minute.
Bangladesh appeared stronger with more attacking intention after resumption and looked more organised having scored four without reply within the hour mark. Along with Shopna's treble, star prolific scorer Sabina Khatun added two more in the second half while Nargis Khatun added the other.
Star Bangladesh forward Sabina Khatun in action COURTESYStriker Sabina, who four goals past Afghanistan in their first group stage match, took her goal-tally to seven from three matches while she assisted two of Shopna's three goals on Monday. Sabina had also netted twice against Maldives in the 2014 Saff Championship.
Bangladesh faced India before in the group stage where their goalkeeper and Sabina helped their side earn their first ever point against their neighbour. The result also allowed Bangladesh to topple the reigning champion on their way to becoming Group B champion. They earlier thumped Afghanistan 6-0 in their first match.
Before Monday's thrashing, Bangladesh encountered Maldives only once in the competition and that was in the previous edition in Pakistan two years ago where they comfortably won the game 3-1. The two sides also played each other in the last South Asian Games in 2015 where star U-16 midfielder Krishna Rani Sarkar's brace helped Bangladesh to a comfortable 2-0 win.
Bangladesh are now more confident after the U-16 girls’ unprecedented success in the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship qualifiers.RESULTBangladesh 6 (Shopna 12, 23, 56, Sabina 48, 58, Nargis 52) 0 Maldives
Star Bangladesh forward Sabina Khatun in action COURTESYStriker Sabina, who four goals past Afghanistan in their first group stage match, took her goal-tally to seven from three matches while she assisted two of Shopna's three goals on Monday. Sabina had also netted twice against Maldives in the 2014 Saff Championship.
Bangladesh faced India before in the group stage where their goalkeeper and Sabina helped their side earn their first ever point against their neighbour. The result also allowed Bangladesh to topple the reigning champion on their way to becoming Group B champion. They earlier thumped Afghanistan 6-0 in their first match.
Before Monday's thrashing, Bangladesh encountered Maldives only once in the competition and that was in the previous edition in Pakistan two years ago where they comfortably won the game 3-1. The two sides also played each other in the last South Asian Games in 2015 where star U-16 midfielder Krishna Rani Sarkar's brace helped Bangladesh to a comfortable 2-0 win.
Bangladesh are now more confident after the U-16 girls’ unprecedented success in the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship qualifiers.RESULTBangladesh 6 (Shopna 12, 23, 56, Sabina 48, 58, Nargis 52) 0 Maldives