Consolation win for U-19 girls

Bangladesh ended their AFC U-19 Women's Champion-ship Qualifiers campaign with a consolation 5-1 victory against hosts Tajikistan at the Hisor Central Stadium in Dushanbe yesterday.

Midfielder Monika Chakma scored a hattrick while defender Shamsunnahar and striker Krishna Rani Sarkar scored one apiece for the girls in red and green.

Following defeats against eventual group champions South Korea and runners-up Chinese Taipei, Bangladesh's chances of qualifying for the second round of the qualifiers had ended, so there was only pride to salvage from the dead rubber, and they managed to do that in some style.

This was also the first international win at the continental level for the under-19 women's team. The victory also proved that they are still well ahead of Tajikistan, against whom the Bangladesh under-16 team recorded victory previously.

Krishna opened the scoring in the seventh minute before Monika scored in the 26th and 42nd minutes. The home side deposited one goal back a minute before the break, but Shamsunnahar scored on the hour-mark before Monika completed the rout in the 74th minute.

Korea sealed the top spot with nine points and qualified for the next round after a 4-0 win over Chinese Taipei in the other game of the day.