Hosts Bangladesh made a winning start in the Bangamata U-19 Women’s Gold Cup as they beat United Arab Emirates by 2-0 at Bangabandhu National Stadium on Monday.
Bangladesh dominated the match completely but they wasted most of their opportunities. However, first half goals from Sirat Jahan Sapna and Krishna Rani Sarkar helped the tournament favorites to win full three points in their first assignment.
The hosts dominated the game from the very first minute and revealed the vast difference between the sides. Defender Akhi Khatun, one of the most experience players of the Bangladesh side, made a long pass from their own half before Sapna easily defeated the UAE goalkeeper to break the deadlock.
BAN 2-0 UAE: #BengalGirls dominate #UAE in #Bangamata openerhttps://t.co/zBAZwFUjaE pic.twitter.com/eQSscVIsnh
— BFF (@bff_football) April 22, 2019
With the lead, the girls in red and green intensified their attack but they squandered two opportunities in the next six minutes. Krishna received a ball from captain Mishrat Jahan Moushumi in the 14th minute but she failed to take a decent shot while Krishna’s attempt in the 17th minute was rebounded off the UAE goalkeeper.
Bangladesh broke through the right and left wing on several occasions in the next few minutes but the lack of finishing and some staunch defending from the Middle Eastern side denied them any goal.
Krishna could have doubled the lead in the 30th minute when she jumped high to make a perfect connection to a Monika Chama corner.
It looked like the hosts will score a plethora of goals in the remaining half but they lacked finishing in the final third throughout the remaining hour. Moushumi made a powerful placing shot off a Shamsunnahar cross but that ended hitting the side netting. Just before the break, Akhi made an attempt but the shot of the tall defender went off the post, grazing the crossbar.
Field at the Bangamata Under 19 international Gold Cup turns blue!#ForEveryChild, ⚽️#Sports4Development pic.twitter.com/uInMyl1EVQ
— UNICEF Bangladesh (@UNICEFBD) April 22, 2019
After the break, Bangladesh got an easy opportunity in the 50th minute but Sapna squandered her one-on-one chance wide of the post. Krishna wasted another opportunity in the 71st minute when she failed to head Marjia Khatun's cross.
The goalkeeper of UAE, who had a very good game, saved another goal two minutes later as she denied a Marjia shot.
Bangladesh went closest for their third in the 81st minute as Sajeda Khatun’s shot from a goalmouth melee was heading towards the post but an UAE defender saved the weak attempt from the goal line.
Bangladesh will play their last group B match against Kyrgyzstan on Friday. Monolia, Tajikistan and Laos are pitted in the group A of the six-team tournament.
