Bangladesh swept into the final of the SAFF Women’s Championship 2024 after handing Bhutan a crushing 7-1 defeat in the first semi-final held at Dasharath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu Sunday.
Tahura Khatun scored her first international hat-trick, while skipper Sabina Khatun netted two goals, as the Bengal Tigresses continued their scoring spree to reach the final of the tournament for the second consecutive time.
Other in-form forward Rituporna Chakma opened the scoring with a blistering strike, and Bangladesh went into the break with a commanding 5-1 lead.
Masura Parvin added another goal in the second half.
In their bid to retain the title in Wednesday’s final, Bangladesh will face Nepal in the final after the hosts beat India in a tiebreaker 4-2 following a 1-1 draw in the normal time.
Tahura has now netted five goals in two matches, having scored a brace in the final group fixture that helped Bangladesh secure a comfortable 3-1 win over India last Wednesday.
English head coach Peter Butler made a single change to the starting XI from the India game by fielding youngster Mosammat Sagorika on the right wing, replacing Shamsunnahar Jr.
Rituporna continued to penetrate the opponent’s defense through the left side, creating a chance for Tahura with a cutback in the second minute before finding the net five minutes later.
Her smashing left-footed strike from just outside the box, following a pass from Tahura, sailed into the top corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.
Rituporna delivered a cross for Sagorika, whose header was denied by a goal-line clearance.
Tahura doubled the lead at the quarter-hour mark, receiving a pass from Sheuli Azim and curving the ball into the top corner from just outside the box.
A minute after Sabina’s first attempt was denied by the sidebar, the captain scored her first goal in this year’s competition by converting Monika Chakma’s delivery with a cool finish.
Tahura scored again from outside the box, skillfully fooling defender Suk Maya to find the right angle and shake the net in the far corner.
Sabina, the top scorer of the 2022 SAFF Women’s Championship, extended the lead two minutes later by skipping past Bhutanese keeper Sangita Monger and rolling the ball into the open net.
Bhutan’s striker Deki Lhazom, the top-scorer in the ongoing edition, pulled one back for her side.
Bhutan had two chances within half an hour, but goalkeeper Rupna Chakma denied them on both occasions.
Tahura completed her hat-trick two minutes before the hour mark with a calm finish after capitalizing on a delightful through ball from Monika.
This marks Tahura’s first international hat-trick playing for the senior side.
Defender Masura Parvin headed in a corner taken by substitute forward Sanjida Akhter to extend the rout.
The women in red and green previously drew 1-1 with Pakistan in their opening group fixture before outplaying India in the second match to reach the semi-finals as Group A winners.
Bhutan defeated Sri Lanka 4-1, thrashed the Maldives 13-0, and drew goalless with Nepal to finish second in Group B.
Bangladesh first made it to the final of the competition in 2016 and reached the grand finale once again in the previous edition in 2022 when they clinched their maiden SAFF Women’s Championship title unbeaten.
RESULT
Bangladesh 7 (Tahura 15, 35, 58, Sabina 26, 37, Rituporna 7, Masura 72) Bhutan 1 (Deki 41)
