Hosts Bangladesh suffered their second consecutive defeat and were ruled out from the qualifying round of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup when Iran beat them 2-0 in their
second match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Thursday.
Smarting from a shocking 9-0 defeat against Thailand, the Bangladesh women played well against Iran in the first half and conceded only a single goal besides availing two chances to equalise as Bangladeshi striker Sabina Khatun missed both.
Bangladesh, ranked 108th in the FIFA world rankings, made the game difficult for 58th ranked Iran but they failed to manage a goal due to a lack of experience and they were also physically inferior than their Iranian counterparts.
Bangladeshi goalkeeper Sabina Akhter performed heroic saves to thwart the Iranian forwards on several occasions but she could not prevent defeat in the face of some continued persistence by the Iranian women.
Iranian striker Maryam Rahimi confirmed the triumph for Iran with two goals which also kept alive their hope of qualifying for the final round next year.
Iran now require a win over Thailand in their last match to have any chances of progressing.
Thailand are leading Group B with six points from their first two matches.
Maryam netted the first goal for Iran in the 26th minute after a swift counter-attack when Zahra Ghanbari produced a defence-splitting pass from the middle circle and Maryam placed the ball past the onrushing Bangladesh goalie Sabina Khatun.
Bangladesh got a clear chance to equalise in the 31st minute when Mainu Marba delivered a through pass for Sabina but she failed to shoot the ball properly.
Iran obtained an opportunity to double their lead in the 32nd minute when Bangladeshi defender Baly Khatun fouled Maryam inside the box but Zahra failed to convert the penalty as she shot wide of the side post.
Six minutes after resumption Maryam put the scoreline beyond doubt when she finished properly from a Zahra through pass to double their lead.
In the very next minute, Iranian midfielder
Safoora Jafari saw her powerful shot from the edge of the box parried away to safety by Bangladesh
custodian Sabina but not before touching the goalpost.
Bangladesh got a chance to reduce the arrears
when Sabina released a through pass for Aungmraching Marma in the 73rd minute but her placing shot was saved by the Iranian goalkeeper Maryam Yektaei.
Bangladeshi goalie Sabina made another
brilliant save in the 80th munite when Safoora headed a corner kick from the top of the box but Sabina cleared it from the goal-line.
Bangladesh will play their last qualifying
match against the Philippines on Saturday at the Bangabandhu National Stadium while Iran will take on Thailand on the same day at the same venue.
Result
Bangladesh 0 v Iran 2 (Maryam 26, 51)
-With New Age input
