Mongolia make flying start
Mongolia got off to a flying start in the Bangamata U-19 Women’s International Gold Cup with an emphatic 3-0 win against Tajikistan in an ill-tempered Group A encounter at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
It was only the second international win for Mongolia U-19 women’s team, who tasted their first-ever international win against Hong Kong in a 1-0 victory during last year’s AFC U-19 Women’s Championship Qualifiers. The win not only brightened Mongolia’s chances of advancing to the semifinals but also served as a revenge for their senior women’s team’s 4-1 defeat against Tajikistan during the 2020 Olympic Games Qualifiers in November last year.
Mongolia went ahead in the 12th minute when unmarked Undral Tuvshinjargala rose high to nod home a corner from Lora Tom while Enkhmargand Enkhbaatar, the most valuable player of the match, doubled the lead in the 28th minute with a diagonal shot from the edge of the box as Tajikistan goalkeeper Shukronai Azimzoda slipped on the pitch.
Tajikistan showed some signs to bit back to the match as Rajobova Sayohat rattled the crossbar on the half hour mark.
Delgerzaya Nyamsuren ensured the victory, converting a spot-kick in the 68th minute before Tajikistan coach Latipov Kanoat was sent off for entering the pitch arguing with the referee in the latter part of the match.
“I am sorry for entering the pitch. I was too emotional,” Latipov said at the post-match briefing. “The referee was not good and made many mistakes which let us down. However, we will work hard to come back in the next match.”
Mongolia’s Japanese coach Kawamoto Naoko, however, felt the referee made the right calls.
“I am satisfied with the performance of my players and this win has all but ensured our semifinal berth,” Naoko said. “We expected a win over Tajikistan because the players of Tajikistan are under-aged and not physically strong.”
“I am really happy to score a goal. We really played better than Tajikistan. We will try our best again in the next match against Laos,” said most valuable player Enkhmargand Enkhbaatar.
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