A hat-trick by forward Alpi Akter powered the Bangladesh Under-19 women’s football team to the final of the SAFF U-19 Women's Championship, as they thrashed hosts Nepal 4-0 at the Pokhara Rangasala Stadium on Wednesday.
With this commanding victory, Peter Butler's side finished the group stage with a perfect record, securing maximum 9 points from three matches to top the table.
India also booked their spot in the final after defeating Bhutan earlier in the day, finishing second with 6 points. The two arch-rivals will now face off in the title decider on Saturday at the same venue.
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Bangladesh wasted no time asserting dominance, taking the lead in just the 3rd minute. Protima Munda opened the scoring with a precise header off a corner kick delivered by Mamoni Chakma.
Despite the early setback, Nepal tightened their defense, denying Bangladesh further goals until the dying moments of the first half.
Alpi Akter then took center stage, doubling the lead in stoppage time before the break with a stunning direct free-kick.
She continued her onslaught in the second half, scoring a solo goal from a counter-attack in the 67th minute. Alpi completed her hat-trick in the 82nd minute by tapping in a cross from Kranuching Marma.
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This hat-trick takes Alpi’s tally to 7 goals in just three matches in the tournament.
Bangladesh and India have met in the previous two finals of this age-group tournament; they were declared joint champions in 2024, while Bangladesh defeated India to lift the trophy in 2021.