Bangladesh off to winning start

Hosts Bangladesh edged Nepal 3-1 in their opening match of the SAFF U-20 Women's Championship after defending champions India thrashed Bhutan 12-0 at the Birshreshtha Shaheed Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur yesterday.

Bangladesh looked like they were in for a dominant performance when they took a 2-0 lead within 13 minutes but Nepal fought back and gave the hosts a run for their money, but eventually in vain.

Bangladesh took only three minutes to break the deadlock when Aklima Khatun raced on to a long-ball from Shaheda Akter Ripa and beat the Nepal goalkeeper Kabita with a placing shot. The lead was doubled 10 minutes later, with captain Shamsunnahar finding the back of the net following another long-ball from inside the Bangladesh half.

Nepal, however, pulled one back in the 24th minute, with Manmaya Damai's effort from the top of the box hitting the inside of the far post and nestling at the back of the Bangladesh net.

Shamsunnahar, the Bangladesh captain, got injured when a Nepal player's high foot hit her in the head towards the end of the first half. She got back on her feet after a delay but was subbed off at the start of the second half, with Airin Khatun taking her place. And her absence was clearly felt as Bangladesh lacked creativity in the attacking third in the second half.

Just as Nepal were looking desperately for an equaliser, Bangladesh sealed the victory with Ripa finding the far corner of the net with a wonderful volley from just outside the box in the first minute of stoppage time.

In the opening game of the four-team championship, India blanked Bhutan 12-0, with Neha, Lynda Kom and Anita Kumari getting hattricks. Apurna Narzary scored the first two goals for India while Nitu Linda scored the other for India, who led the first half 4-0.

Bangladesh will play against India while Nepal will take on Bhutan on the second match day tomorrow.