Bangladesh’s U-17 girls shook off the sting of their loss to India with a solid 3–0 victory over Nepal on Sunday in Thimphu, keeping themselves very much in the hunt at the SAFF Championship.
It wasn’t pretty at first. For nearly 40 minutes, Bangladesh looked flat, their passes going astray and chances slipping away.
Souravi Akand even missed a one-on-one in the 35th minute. But just before halftime, the game turned. Thwinu Marma met a Mamoni Chakma cross in the 41st to break the deadlock. Moments later, a long shot spilled out of Nepal keeper Laxmi’s hands, leaving Souravi an easy finish.
Two up at the break, Bangladesh had breathing space. Nepal came hard after the restart, with Sahara Limbu rattling the post and later finding herself clear on goal — only to be denied by keeper Iarzan Begum.
Bangladesh wasted chances of their own, Souravi twice striking the woodwork. Still, the third came deep in stoppage time when Riya pounced inside the box to settle it.
With two wins from three matches, Bangladesh sit second in the table on six points. India, who routed Bhutan 8–0 earlier in the day, top the group with nine.
Bangladesh face Nepal again on Wednesday, knowing there is little room for slip-ups.