Bangladesh girls showed a good display against a strong Indian side as they drew 1-1 at Chalimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan Sunday in their final group stage match of Saff U-15 Championship, and earned confidence for the final where these two teams will meet Tuesday at the same venue.
Both the sides concluded the round-robin group fixtures with seven points after winning their opening two matches but goal-difference put India ahead.
Bangladesh will now try to avenge their defeat inflicted by their neighbor in the grand finale of the last edition.
The defending champion, India slammed 10 goals against host Bhutan while the girls in red and green managed only two, but it was the reigning runners-up, Bangladesh who controlled the game Sunday.
Bangladesh girls qualified for the final of the Saff U-15 Championship after edging Nepal 2-1 in their second and penultimate group stage match at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan Friday.https://t.co/zSuTKumyLu#FOOTBALL #BFF #BANGLADESHFOOTBALL #BANGLADESH #SAFF
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) October 11, 2019
Both sides made five changes in the starting XI from their respective last matches as Bangladesh’s Sapna Rani, Rumi Akter, Joynob Bibi, Mahfuza Khatun and Nusrat Jahan made their international debut.
India’s hat-trick girl of the last match, Sai Sankhe found it hard to break through Bangladesh defence, but midfielder Amisha Baxla utilized a chance to open the scoring in the 24th minute connecting a cross of Astam Oraon from an unmarked position.
Bangladesh responded quickly as debutant forward Sapna cancelled the lead two minutes later with a brilliant placing shot past the India goalkeeper Adrija Sarkhel from the top of the box following a long headed pass from Rumi Akhter.
Bangladesh looked more organized after the break following a couple of substitutions within a minute as Sumi Khatun and Kohati Kisku replaced Shaheda Akter Ripa and Mahfuza.
Bangladesh kicked off their four-nation Saff U-15 Women’s Championship 2019 campaign with a dominating 2-0 win over host Bhutan at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu Wednesday.https://t.co/QyZxYz1iBu#BFF #FOOTBALL #BANGLADESHFOOTBALL #BANGLADESH #SAFF #SAFFU15CHAMPIONSHIP
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) October 10, 2019
Captain Shamsunnahar and Sapna continued to wreck havoc upon the India defence but to no avail at the end.
Bangladesh keeper Rupna Chakma was brilliant under the sticks as she denied India striker Sunita Munda twice.
It should be mentioned that the prolific Sunita, quite experienced at this level, scored the deciding goal in the last final to help her side clinch the title.
Golam Rabbani Choton was a content coach after the performance of his newly shaped U-15 team and hailed the debutants for making their mark.
“I want to congratulate the girls for playing a draw against strong India. It’s a new team as six players played for the first time but it didn’t look like they made their debut. It was a good rehearsal for the final. I believe they will play another competitive game in the final,” said Choton after the game.
RESULT
Bangladesh U-15 1 (Sapna 26) 1 India U-15 (Amisha 24)
