Bangladesh women’s football team all but confirmed a semi-final berth in the Saff Championship after thrashing Pakistan 6-0 in Kathmandu, Nepal Saturday.
Prolific striker Sabina Khatun, who bagged a brace in Bangladesh’s 3-0 win over Maldives in their opening game, starred with a hat-trick while Monika Chakma, Sirat Jahan Shopna and Rituporna Chakma scored one each.
Pakistan were no match for the Bangladesh women who led 4-0 at the first half break before adding two more after resumption.
Bangladesh broke the deadlock in just the third minute when Monika found the back of the net with her right-footed effort after an opposition defender failed to clear a Sabina pass.
The Bengal Tigresses doubled the lead in the 28th minute as Shopna placed home from a Sabina pass.
Bangladesh extended their lead three minutes later through captain Sabina who struck home in a one-on-one encounter with the goalkeeper after being set up beautifully by a Monika defence splitting pass.
Sabina netted her second, and Bangladesh’s fourth, in the 35th minute after good work down the left flank by Sanjida.
Sabina notched her treble in the 58th minute when she headed home a Maria Manda cross from the right wing while Rituporna completed the rout in the 77th minute with a shot from outside the box.
The women in red and green will take on holders India in their last Group A match this Tuesday but the former’s place in the last four can be confirmed later Saturday if the latter beat Maldives.
