Bangladesh women footballers crushed Turkmenistan with a massive 7-0 victory at Yangon's Thuwunna Stadium on Saturday. The team had already secured their spot for the AFC Women's Asian Cup final round before this match. All seven goals happened during an amazing first half performance. The Red and Greens showed they belong among Asia's top football nations. This result proved Bangladesh women can compete at the highest level.
Sapna Rani scored first with a long-distance shot just four minutes into the game. Shamsunnahar added two goals at six and thirteen minutes. Monika Chakma found the net at sixteen minutes. Ritu Porna Chakma scored twice during the first half at eighteen and forty minutes. Tohura Khatun completed the scoring spree at twenty-one minutes.
Coach Peter Butler rested his star players during the second half. Ritu left the field at halftime and Shamsunnahar departed after sixty-eight minutes. Several substitute players got valuable playing time when the match was already decided. Turkmenistan tried harder after the break but could not match Bangladesh's skill. Their goalkeeper made several mistakes that made the score even worse.
Bangladesh finished first place in Group B with nine points from three games. They had beaten Bahrain 3-0 and Myanmar 2-1 earlier. Myanmar grabbed second place after defeating Bahrain 6-0. The team heads to Australia next March for the twelve-team tournament. A top-six finish guarantees World Cup qualification and eighth place keeps playoff hopes alive.
Sapna Rani scored first with a long-distance shot just four minutes into the game. Shamsunnahar added two goals at six and thirteen minutes. Monika Chakma found the net at sixteen minutes. Ritu Porna Chakma scored twice during the first half at eighteen and forty minutes. Tohura Khatun completed the scoring spree at twenty-one minutes.
Coach Peter Butler rested his star players during the second half. Ritu left the field at halftime and Shamsunnahar departed after sixty-eight minutes. Several substitute players got valuable playing time when the match was already decided. Turkmenistan tried harder after the break but could not match Bangladesh's skill. Their goalkeeper made several mistakes that made the score even worse.
Bangladesh finished first place in Group B with nine points from three games. They had beaten Bahrain 3-0 and Myanmar 2-1 earlier. Myanmar grabbed second place after defeating Bahrain 6-0. The team heads to Australia next March for the twelve-team tournament. A top-six finish guarantees World Cup qualification and eighth place keeps playoff hopes alive.
