Bangladesh storm into final

Shamsunnahar struck a hattrick as Bangladesh stormed into the final of the SAFF U-20 Women's Championship as group champions with an emphatic 5-0 win over Bhutan in the last encounter of the group stages at Birshreshtha Shaheed Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur yesterday.

Bangladesh will play Thursday's final against Nepal, who upset pre-tournament favourites India with a come-from-behind 3-1 win to send the defending champions packing.

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India needed just one point to ensure a spot in back-to-back finals and they appeared on the right track after taking a 21st-minute lead through Apurna Hazary, but the Himalayan women changed the course of the match drastically by netting thrice in the second half.

Anjali Chand equalised in the 48th minute before Preeti Rai and Amisha Kharki struck in the 69th and 89th minutes respectively to book a final berth with six points from three matches, which included a defeat to Bangladesh.

Although an outright win for India would have seen Bangladesh into the final before they took the field against Bhutan, the upset in the day's first match meant Bangladesh could not afford to lose against Bhutan, who conceded 16 goals in their previous two matches.

Despite being eliminated from contention, Bhutan seemed that they had come out with a different mindset and were aiming to finish the tournament on a high. They gave the hosts a run for their money in the opening minutes, but the Bangladeshi backline did not waver.

Golam Rabbani Choton's charges grew in confidence as the match progressed and established complete control, keeping the Bhutanese defenders busy as Shamsunnahar Jr and Shaheda Akter Ripa whipped in several crosses while forward Aklima Khatun unsettled the backline with dazzling dribbles.

She also joined Shamsunnar in scoring twice. Aklima, who finished as the top scorer in the Bangladesh women's football league, got her first chance in the ninth minute when she dribbled past two defenders but failed to muster a shot with only the goalkeeper to beat. Two minutes later, Unnoti Khatun saw her feeble shot blocked.

Shamsunnar was also frustrated in an attempt to break the deadlock after finding herself one-on-one with opposing goalkeeper Norbu Zangmo in the 17th minute. But she shook that off and turned provider for Aklima, darting into the box from the left and cutting back for Aklima, who took her time before driving home a grounded shot in the 22nd minute.

In the next minute, Ripa squandered a penalty when she drove wide but Shamsunnar made no mistake, doubling the lead after nodding home a curling Unnoti Khatun corner kick on the half-hour mark.

Bangladesh maintained their stranglehold in the second half and Shamsunnar, availing a through ball from Ripa, raced into the box to make it 3-0 in the 53rd minute. In the same fashion, Aklima widened the margin to 4-0 on the hour-mark.

Shamsunnar then completed her hattrick in the 66th minute to complete the rout after Aklima nicely set up the forward with a long ball.

Bangladesh could have added even more gloss to the scoreline afterwards, but multiple chances went begging and no further goals were added by either side.