Bangladesh go down fighting 3-2 against Australia

A ten-women Bangladesh go down fighting 3-2 against Australia in their final group league game of the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship at the Institute of Physical Education Stadium in Chonburi today.

Australia needed two late goals including a magnificent curling corner from Kyra Cooney-Cross that sailed into the far corner of the net in the 78th minute to save their blushes against a spirited Bangladesh team. Substite Sofia Sakalish scored the winner in the 83rd minute, slotting home from a goal-mouth scrambe.

Earlier, Monika Chakma gave Bangladesh a 2-1 lead in the 51st minute shotting a rebounder from the top of the box. That goal marked an amazing turnaround after they were reduced to 10 players in the first half.

Laura Emily gave Australia a ninth minute lead. Bangladesh were reduced to ten-women when captain Krishna Rani got the marching order in the 32nd minute. But despite the setback Bangladesh came back strongly and won a penalty in the 45th minute when Shopna was brought down by Cecillija Matic in the forbidden zone. Shamsunnahar converted from the spot as the Bangladesh girls head for the lemon break with their heads held high.

The match turned into a dead rubber after both side’s defeat against North Korea and Japan. Interestingly, both Bangladesh and Australia, who are ranked 100 places above Bangladesh, ended their scoring duck in the match after conceding 12 each in their previous games.