Bangladesh storm into the final

A hat-trick from skipper Sabina Khatun saw Bangladesh run riot at the Dasharath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu on Friday as the women in red and green put eight past Bhutan in the semifinal of the SAFF Women's Championship.

The 8-0 victory also ensured a second final berth for Bangladesh, who are set to meet Nepal in the all-important final at the same venue on September 19. Nepal beat India 1-0 in the other semifinal yesterday.

Bangladesh exposed Bhutan's high backline time and again to net goals one after another despite Bhutan captain Pema Choden having vowed to give Bangladesh some tough times on the ground.

It took only two minutes for Golam Rabbani Choton's charges to open the scoring. Availing a perfectly weighted through pass from Monika Chakma, forward Sirat Jahan Swapna rounded off the Bhutan goalkeeper to slot home the first goal.

Hat-trick hero Sabina scored the next goal when she, having received a through pass from Maria Manda from the right flank, dribbled past the advancing goalkeeper and netted an angular shot with composure in the 17th minute.

Sabina completed her hat-trick with two more goals in the second half as Bangladesh routed a feeble Bhutan with four goals in each half.