AFC U-16 Women’s Qualifiers: Bangladesh off to flying start

Bangladesh got off to a flying start in their mission to become champions in Group B Qualifying Round-2 of the AFC U-16 Women’s Championships outplaying their unknown rivals the Philippines by massive 10-0 goals in their first match at the Mandalar Thiri Stadium in Mandalay, Myanmar on Wednesday, reports the UNB.
Bangladesh U-16 Women’s Football team, which brought laurel for the country by reaching the eight-team final round of the prestigious AFC Junior Women’s meet last year, are eying to reach the final round this time too as champions of the four-team Group B.
Bangladesh, which were placed in Group B of the AFC U-16 Women’s meet with China, the Philippines and hosts Myanmar, will play Myanmar on March 1 and China on March 3 in their remaining group matches, all at the Mandalar Thiri Stadium.
In the day’s opener, striker Tahura Khatun made a hat-trick scoring three goals, Shamsun Nahar Junior and Anuching Mogini struck two goals each while Shamsun Nahar Senior, captain Maria Manda and Nilufar Yesmin Nila scored one goal each for Bangladesh, which dominated the first half by 6-0 goals.
Shamsun Nahar Junior put Bangladesh ahead in the very 2nd minute utilising a placing shot of defender Shamsun Nahar Senior (1-0), striker Tahura Khatun doubled the margin in the 17th minute off a Maria Manda pass (2-0).
In the following minute, Shamsunnahar Junior scored her 2nd and the 3rd goal for Bangladesh by a good header (3-0) while Tahura Khatun netted the 2nd goal in the 24th minute (4-0).
Tahura completed the hat-trick scoring her 3rd goal in the 37th minute by a placing shot (5-0) while Shamsun Nahar Senior further widened the Bangladesh margin in the 41st minute from a penalty to dominate the first half by 6-0 goals. Nilufar Yesmin Nila and Anuching Mogioni added two more goals in the 47th and 58th minute respectively (8-0).
Captain Maria Manda scored the 9th goal for Bangladesh in the 64th minute by a long distance shot (9-0) while Anuching Mogini sealed the fate of the match scoring one more goal in the dying moment to leave the field with the massive victory (10-0).
After the match, Bangladesh Head Coach Golam Robbani Choton said, ‘I’m very happy with the way my team played in the match. Our girls played the full match positively and very hard from the beginning of the match. Our target is to go to the final round. The next match against hosts Myanmar is very important for us.’