Bangladesh’s women’s futsal team returned to the title race in the SAFF Women’s Futsal Championship after securing a commanding 3-0 victory over Nepal. The match, held at Nonthaburi Hall in Bangkok, Thailand, saw goals from Sabina Khatun, Krishna Rani, and Lipi Akter, each contributing a crucial strike to ensure their team’s dominant performance. With this win, Bangladesh now has 7 points from three matches, keeping them firmly in contention for the championship under the round-robin format.
From the outset, Bangladesh displayed attacking intent, pressing high and creating early chances. Within the first ten minutes, the team had two clear opportunities to open the scoring, but both attempts were narrowly off-target. The breakthrough finally came in the 14th minute when Krishna Rani received the ball from Anita and delivered a precise pass to captain Sabina Khatun, who calmly slotted it past the Nepali goalkeeper.
Before the first half concluded, Krishna Rani herself doubled the lead, showcasing her skill as she dribbled past Nepal’s defensive line and finished with composure. The second half saw Bangladesh adopt a slightly more cautious approach, while Nepal attempted to exploit gaps and mount a comeback. However, the Bangladeshi goalkeeper, Swapna Akter, stood firm, making three crucial saves and denying Nepal any real chance to score. The third goal was later secured through Lipi Akter, effectively sealing Bangladesh’s victory.
The tournament is being contested in a league format, meaning there is no final. The team with the highest points after all matches will be crowned champions. Bangladesh will next face Sri Lanka on Wednesday in their fourth fixture, and a win could put them in an even stronger position to claim the title.
A brief summary of Bangladesh’s performance so far is presented below:
| Match | Opponent | Result | Goalscorers | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sri Lanka | TBD | TBD | 3/0? |
| 2 | Nepal | 3-0 | Sabina Khatun, Krishna Rani, Lipi Akter | 7 |
| 3 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 4 | Sri Lanka | Upcoming | TBD | TBD |
Bangladesh coach Saeed Khodarahmi praised the team’s performance, saying, “The players showed great discipline and attacking intent. We are fully focused on our upcoming matches and aim to finish at the top.”
With their confidence high and attacking prowess on display, Bangladesh looks poised to challenge for the SAFF Women’s Futsal Championship crown, provided they maintain consistency in their remaining matches.
