SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship, Bangladesh crush Sri Lanka 5-0 to extend unbeaten run

SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship: Bangladesh Dominate Sri Lanka 5-0 to Extend Perfect Run

The Bangladesh Under-20 women's national football team continued their impressive run in the ongoing SAFF U-20 Women's Championship with a commanding 5-0 win over Sri Lanka in their fifth match, held Saturday evening at Bashundhara Kings Arena Ground 2 in Dhaka.

Head coach Peter Butler made four changes to the starting lineup, handing goalkeeper Mst Fardosi Akter Shonale her debut. Mst Surma Jannat, Ayonto Bala Mahoto, Kanon Rani Bahadur, and Puja Das also came into the squad, replacing Mile Akter, Nabiran Khatun, Mst Bonna Khatun, Sinha Jahan Sikha, and Shanti Mardi.

Although Sri Lanka registered the first shot on target in the 8th minute, it was Bangladesh who took control of the match soon after. The first major chance for the Tigresses came through Sree Moti Trishna Rani, but her effort was denied by Sri Lankan goalkeeper Tharushika Dodamgodage and then cleared off the line by defender Dulini Arachchilage.

Bangladesh finally broke the deadlock in the 25th minute with a clinical strike from Kanon Rani Bahadur at the edge of the box. The hosts pressed harder afterward, with Trishna missing several opportunities and Surma hitting the post in the 38th minute.

In added time of the first half, Bangladesh doubled their lead. Trishna’s shot struck the post after a slight deflection from Tharushika, and Puja Das pounced on the rebound to calmly slot it in, giving Bangladesh a 2-0 lead going into halftime.

Peter Butler reshuffled his lineup again at the break, bringing in regular captain Afeida Khandaker, midfielder Sapna Rani, Munki Akhter, and winger Umehla Marma for Surma, Kanon, Rupa Akter, and Kanom Akter. The changes paid off, as Bangladesh became even more dominant in attack.

Umehla Marma immediately made an impact on the right wing, sending in a cross in the 46th minute that set up Ayonto for a blocked attempt. Afeida missed a close-range opportunity in the 49th minute, while Umehla missed a golden chance in the 54th.

Bangladesh's third goal came in the 73rd minute, with Puja Das scoring her second of the match from long range. Trishna added her name to the scoresheet in the 86th minute with the team’s fourth. In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Afeida Khandaker converted from the penalty spot to seal the 5-0 victory.

Earlier in the tournament, Bangladesh thrashed Sri Lanka 9-1 in the opening match. With five wins in five games, Bangladesh now need just one point from their final group-stage fixture against Nepal on Monday to clinch the championship title once again.

In the other match of the day, Nepal outclassed Bhutan 8-0, with Meena Deuba and Purnima Rai scoring hat-tricks, and Samikshya Magar and Kusum Khatiwada adding a goal each. A win for Nepal on Monday could also hand them the championship, setting up a thrilling finale.