Bangladesh emerge group winners

Bangladesh emerged as Group B champions in the SAFF U-15 Women's Championship with a 3-0 win over Nepal in their final group stage match at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan yesterday. 

The defending champions went ahead in the first half as Tahura Khatun headed one in before captain Maria Manda and winger Sajeda Khatun struck one goal apiece in the second half to send Bangladesh into the semifinal. The girls in red and green will play their last-four battle against hosts Bhutan on Thursday after Group A champions India take on Nepal earlier on the same day.

The girls did face some hurdles from their Nepalese counterparts though. Nepal did not give any room to their mighty opponents but Bangladesh ultimately took the lead in the stoppage time of the first half.

After the massive 14-0 win over Pakistan, the win over Nepal was expected. However the stiff competition Nepal put up was not expected as the Himalayan girls seem to have improved greatly, trapping the Bangladeshi forwards offside many a time with a solid backline.

Bangladesh got off to a fine start nevertheless and took control of the midfield from the onset with the help of their two brilliant midfielders Maria and Monica Chakma while Shamsunnahar Sr and Sajeda Khatun kept penetrating their opponents from both flanks.

There was a lack of composure in the attacking third though as striking duo Tahura Khatun and Anuching Mogini failed to cash in on a few through passes. Both the forwards even appeared to be too slow to chase the ball, leaving the opposing goalkeeper untested.

Akhi Khatun tried one from a distance but her dipping shot went over the crosspiece in the fourth minute while Sajeda drove an angular pass from Maria wide from the edge of the box in the 18th minute.

Tahura finally found the back of net in the 36th minute but her header was ruled offside. She made amends though by heading in a lob from Maria home in stoppage time to give the holders the lead.

Six minutes into the second half, Maria struck the second goal when a poor clearance came her way inside the box.

Nepal in return did muster a few shots on target but they could not beat goalkeeper Mahmuda Akhter.

In the 67th minute, Sajeda capitalized on the miscommunication between a Nepalese defender and their goalkeeper to tap one in and ensure the 3-0 win.