At the SAFF Women’s Championship in Kathmandu, Pakistan failed to match India’s gutsy performance in their second match against Bangladesh.
Having been international pariahs for eight years. Pakistan’s women’s team has a lot to catch up to against the region’s top teams.
An In the face of an institutional crisis, the Pakistan Women’s football team lost 3-0 to India on Wednesday in their first international match since 2014.
Pakistan Women football team expected to be better
In contrast with India, who won all five tournaments, Pakistan expected to do better against Bangladesh.
Zulfia Nazir started brightly, but her solo run foiled by Bangladesh goalkeeper Rupma Chakma in the very first minute.
Sabina Khatun scored a hat-trick to secure Bangladesh’s second straight win. And India crushed the Maldives 9-0 in the other match of the group to confirm Pakistan’s elimination.
Having clinched their semi-final spots, India and Bangladesh will face off for top spot on Tuesday. While Pakistan looks to finish their campaign strongly against Maldives.
Monika Chakma scored Bangladesh’s first goal in the third minute at Dasarath Rangasala Stadium after Sabina put her through from the right after Zulfia’s early effort.
After dominating for the first half, Bangladesh scored their second when Maria Manda provided a pass to Sabina, and the captain allowed Sirat Jahan Swapna to strike with perfect accuracy.
Right after the half-hour mark, Sabina scored her first goal after Monika’s initial shot was parried. Having scored 31 goals in 44 international appearances, she more than doubled her tally four minutes after being cut back by Sanjida Akhter.
Sabina completed her hat-trick 13 minutes after the restart with a brilliant guiding header from Monika’s cross.
Bangladesh didn’t give up despite Sabina’s removal in the 72nd minute. Rituporna Chakma’s powerful left-footed effort into the top left corner of the Pakistan net was perhaps the best goal of the game.
Bangladesh hit Pakistan out of final
A four-goal performance by Anju Tamang in India’s rout of the Maldives put Pakistan out of the semi-final race.
Tamang scored India’s first goal in the 24th minute, followed by Priyangka Devi’s double in the 42nd.
In the second period, Tamang scored her second by tapping in a rebound near the end of the half.
A 5-0 lead made in the 55th minute when Soumya Guguloth scored – Tamang scored twice, Dangmei scored twice, and Kashmina scored once.
