Football

Bangladesh have surprised India, condemning the five-time defending champions to a 3-0 defeat – their first in the SAFF Women’s Championship history. 

Tuesday’s result at the Dashrath Stadium means Bangladesh have finished Group A as winners with nine points, three clear of India. The Bangladeshi will now meet Bhutan in the first semi-final (1pm kick-off) on Friday. India will face hosts Nepal in the other semi-final at 5:30pm the same day. The final will be on Monday.

Bangladesh started brightly, applying early pressure on India They managed to find the net in the seventh minute, but their celebration was short lived as the referee disallowed it, ruling a foul on Indian goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan during a goalmouth melee.

Bangladesh’s efforts paid off in the 12th minute when MS Jahan Shopna found the net with a 22-yard pile driver. Their relentless pressure was telling on the Indian defence which gave way ten minutes later.

Srimoti K Sarkar, showing great control on the ball, doubled Bangladesh’s lead after getting a couple of Indian defenders to beat Chauhan.

India, not backing down, tried to find gaps in the opposition half but the Bangladeshi were quick to shut them down, as the teams went into half time with Bangladesh leading 2-0.

Bangladesh immediately pressed hard when the game resumed. And in the 52nd minute, captain Sabina Khatun put MS Jahan Shopna through with a clever pass and the forward made no mistake to complete the brace.