Bangladesh women crush Turkmenistan in 7-goal rout to advance to Asian Cup finals undefeated

Peter James Butler kept the starting eleven unchanged even for a match that was merely a formality. The intention of finishing the Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers with a 100 percent win record came to the forefront as soon as the match began. Shamsun Nahar (Junior), Ritu Porna Chakma, and others scored seven goals in the first half alone.

In the final Group C match in Myanmar’s Yangon on Saturday, no goals were scored in the second half. Despite this, Bangladesh won by a 7-goal margin, with three consecutive wins and 9 points.

Shamsun Nahar and Ritu Porna each gifted the team a brace, while Sapna Rani, Monika Chakma, and Tohura Khatun scored one goal each.

Having started the qualifiers by thrashing Bahrain 7-0 and defeating a strong Myanmar 2-1, Bangladesh had already made history by qualifying for the Asian Cup for the first time.

The goal fest began in the fourth minute when Sapna scored with a powerful shot from outside the box off Tohura’s cut-back.

Two minutes later, the lead doubled. After Afeida Khandaker’s header from a teammate’s cross was saved by the goalkeeper, Shamsun Nahar neatly slotted the ball into the net from a crowded box.

In the 13th minute, Turkmenistan’s net was breached again. The goalkeeper failed to reach a cross from Shamsunnahar (Senior) on the right, and Shamsun Nahar easily tapped the loose ball into the goal. Moments later, Monika made it 4-0 with a stunning shot after advancing slightly upon receiving the ball just outside the box.

In the 17th minute, Ritu Porna cut past a defender well outside the box and took a shot. The ball slipped through the goalkeeper’s hands and into the net. Following this goal, Turkmenistan’s coach replaced goalkeeper Aysha Amanberdıyeva with Elnura Maksyutova.

However, Elnura conceded a goal soon after coming on. Despite having a chance to start off a counter, she couldn’t take a proper shot. Ritu Porna regained control, sent a cross, and Tohura provided the necessary tap-in from close range.

In the 35th minute, Ritu Parna’s shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out. Five minutes later, the forward’s left-footed shot from just outside the box curled past the goalkeeper’s gloves and into the net.

With the victory all but secured in the first half, the team wasn’t desperate for goals in the second half. Butler made three substitutions to give youngsters a chance, bringing on Sapna Rani Mondal, Umehla Marma, and Halima Akter for Rupna Chakma, Ritu Porna, and Sheuli Azim.

Even so, chances kept coming occasionally. In the 57th minute, Shamsun Naha failed to take a shot from a good position in the box after receiving the ball. Shortly after, Monika’s long-range shot slipped through the goalkeeper’s gloves, but she stopped it on her second attempt.

In the 61st minute, Butler replaced Sapna with Shaheda Akter Ripa. Later, Sultana came on for Shamsun Nahar. In the last ten minutes of the match, Turkmenistan’s goalkeeper saved two shots from Maria Manda. Although the scoreline didn’t increase further, Bangladesh’s joy of victory remained undiminished.

Qualifying for the Asian Cup, winning three consecutive matches, and scoring 16 goals while conceding just one, Bangladesh concluded the qualifiers with a handful of achievements. The wait for the main stage of the Asian Cup, to be held in Australia in March next year, has now begun.