Nepal national women's football team held Bangladesh to a last gasp 1-1 draw in the first game of the two-match FIFA international friendly series at Bir Shrestha Shaheed Sipahi Mohammad Mostofa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur Thursday evening.
Captain Sabina Khatun gave Bangladesh the lead in the 65th minute and the home side were counting the seconds to the final whistle before Sabitra Bhandari struck in the first minute of time added on.
After dominating ball possession in the first half, Bangladesh went ahead in the 65th minute.
Debutant Shaheda Akter Ripa, who came on for Sanjida Akter at the hour mark, made an immediate impact as she threaded a defence splitting pass to Sabina and the Bangladesh captain entered the box before applying a fine finish past Nepal goalkeeper Anjila Tumbapo Subba in a one on one situation.
However, the hosts were unable to see off the opposition and register a morale boosting victory owing to a lack of concentration by the backline.
Defender Masura Parvin could not clear a Nepal attack in the danger zone and Sabitra, top-scorer of the Indian women's league this year, seized the opportunity by stroking home the equalizer.
This is the third time 140th ranked Bangladesh drew with 101st placed Nepal in 10 encounters with the latter emerging victorious on six occasions.
The only time Bangladesh beat Nepal was at the 2022 SAFF Championship final in September.
While the women in red and green did not play a single international fixture in the last 10 months following their SAFF triumph, Nepal featured in four competitive matches.
In the absence of previous head coach Golam Rabbani Choton, who resigned from his role, assistant coach Mahbubur Rahman Litu was in charge of the Bengal Tigresses.
The second and final friendly will be held at the same venue this Sunday.
Bangladesh starting XI: Rupna Chakma, Sheuli Azim, Shamsunnahar, Afida Khondokar, Masura Parvin, Monika Chakma, Sanjida Akter (Shaheda Akter Ripa 59), Maria Manda, Krishna Rani Sarkar (Matsushima Sumaya 79), Tahura Khatun (Ritu Porna Chakma 79), Sabina Khatun
