Bangladesh beat hosts Laos 3-1 in their first match of the AFC Under-20 Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers held at National Stadium in Vientiane Wednesday.
Sagorika netted one each in either half while Munki Akter added the other as the visitors dominated their opening qualifying fixture.
Peter Butler kept the SAFF U-20 Championship-winning squad unchanged in the travelling troupe.
Bangladesh had a couple of opportunities within 20 minutes but failed to convert them.
Laos also had their chances.
Bangladesh took control of the game as Sagorika provided the breakthrough, heading home from a corner in the 36th minute.
Bangladesh could have doubled the lead five minutes later if the crossbar had not denied Sinha Shikha's effort.
The girls in red and green got their second after the break.
Munki placed into the near post after a fine build-up a minute before the hour mark.
Bangladesh were in control as Sagorika's header from Sapna Rani's cross in the 72nd minute rebounded off the woodwork.
Laos forward Anna Keo Onsy pulled one back three minutes before the end of normal time, which gave the hosts some hope.
But Bangladesh sealed the victory as Sagorika struck again two minutes into stoppage time.
She collected a short pass from Trishna Rani inside the box and slotted it into the net brilliantly with a superb finish.
“Always nice to win the first game. Important for us to get some points on the board,” said Bangladesh’s head coach Butler after the match.
“We defended well. A bit risky at times, but that’s the way we play.”
“We gave a sloppy goal away, which was disappointing. But they never really troubled us,” he added.
Bangladesh are in Group H alongside Laos, Korea Republic and Timor-Leste.
They will face Timor-Leste next at the same venue Friday.
The young Bengal Tigresses will conclude their qualifying campaign against the Korea Republic Sunday.
