Tohura Khatun netted a brace as holders Bangladesh outplayed India 3-1 in their second and last Group A match of the SAFF Women’s Championship 2024 at Dasharath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu Wednesday.
The win sent Bangladesh to the semi-finals as group winner.
They earned four points while India finished second as the other semi-finalist with three points.
The women in red and green will face Group B runners-up – Nepal or Bhutan – in the first semi-final at the same venue next Sunday in their bid for a final spot.
The 21-year old striker Tohura stole the first-half show with two goals.
She tapped in from close range to convert Rituporna Chakma’s cross before unleashing a fiery strike from just outside the box to triple Bangladesh’s lead.
Young center-back Afeida Khandaker had opened the scoring following the quarter-hour mark with a delightful chip over goal-mouth melee after Sabina Khatun’s corner was merely fisted away by the Indian goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu towards Afeida.
Rituporna rattled the sidebar once as Bangladesh looked dangerous in attack.
India’s forward Bala Devi had a good chance but got denied by Bangladesh keeper Rupna Chakma before Manisha hit the woodwork from a free-kick.
Bala Devi headed home a Rupna clearance to reduce the margin before the break.
Rupna produced a couple of fine saves to deny Sangita Basfore and substitute Jyoti Chauhan after resumption as India showed effort to come back.
Compared to the last match which they drew 1-1 against Pakistan, the Bengal Tigresses looked more energetic and confident from the beginning.
Peter Butler made two changes from the Pakistan game by bringing back Maria Manda to partner Monika Chakma and Sabina in midfield and Masura Parvin to center-half.
Sapna Rani and Kohati Kisku made way for Maria and Masura respectively.
The attacking trio of Rituporna and Shamsunnahar Jr on the wings and Tohura in the middle remained unchanged and subsequently prove their worth.
Bangladesh are the defending champions.
They clinched the trophy for the first time in 2022 after India took home the previous five titles.
RESULT
India 1 (Bala Devi 43) Bangladesh 3 (Afeida 18, Tohura 29, 42)
