The high voltage melee between Bangladesh and Nepal was about to run out with a 2-2 margin when a last minute score by substitute striker Trishna Rani saved Bangladesh from the humiliation in the ongoing SAFF Under-20 Women's Championship on Sunday at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka.
The high-stakes clash between Bangladesh and Nepal witnessed the host go ahead in the 13th minute of the match following an excellent performance of striker Sagorika, Munki Akhter, and Sinha Jahan Shikha. The speedy Sagorika stormed into Nepalese danger area from the left before passing the ball to Munki who took a shot on goal when the ball was denied by a Nepalese defender but an unmarked Shikha in the box sparked up then and placed the ball home.
The proud women in red and green outfits needed 23 minutes to double the lead. It was, of course, Sagorika who sent a bounced ball right into the post quickly after repeated attempts of her fellow Sikha was denied by Nepalese custodian Birsana Chaudhary. It was Sagorika's fourth goal in the tournament scoring which she levelled with another Nepali striker Purnima Rai as the top scorers, so far.
However, Nepalese striker Meena Deuba was dangerously tackled by Bangladesh defender Joynob Bibi Rita in the D-box in the 76th minute leading to a free-kick awarded to Nepal.
The free-kick was the golden moment Nepal was waiting for. Taking the shot, Nepal striker Anisha Rai scored their first goal.
A foul play can lead to a bad result and the Sunday match is a good example of that. Digesting one, Bangladesh was already disheartened. The nervous Bangladesh made some mistakes afterwards and taking the chance, Nepalese striker Meena Deuba who was downed nine minutes ago took the perfect revenge and scored the leveller.
Everyone thought that the match would end in a tie but the hosts kept trying to restore their pride. Finally, their endeavour paid off as Trishna Rani managed to break the deadlock and score the match winning goal in the final minute.
Earlier, the Bangladesh U-20 women's football team sent a strong message in its tournament opener, demolishing Sri Lanka with a resounding 9-1 victory. Spearheaded by a commanding performance from Afeida Khandaker and her teammates, the young Tigresses showcased their attacking prowess and tactical discipline. On Sunday evening, they faced their toughest challenge yet in the tournament.
Nepal, another tournament favourite, also made a statement in their first match, overpowering Bhutan 6-1.
With both teams in scintillating form, the Sunday-clash was seen as a potential title decider early in the competition. A win for either side would not only boost their confidence but also establish them as the team to beat in the tournament. That's why it was the most critical and vital match of the tournament.
Despite the round-robin format allowing teams to recover from setbacks, Bangladesh women have made it clear that they were targeting nothing less than victory. Coach and players alike have emphasised the importance of maintaining momentum, knowing that a positive result against Nepal could pave the way for championship glory.
It was, indeed, a thrilling contest between two of South Asia's rising forces in women's youth football.
