Hosts Bangladesh completed their AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifying campaign with a 4-0 defeat against Philippines in their third and final match at the
Bangabandhu National Stadium on Saturday.
The match turned into an academic affair after the result of the day’s first match between Thailand and Iran, where the Thais outplayed Iran by 5-1 to confirm their participation in the final round as Group B champions.
Bangladesh conceded 15 goals in the tournament while they failed to score a single goal. The hosts started the campaign with a morale shattering 9-0 defeat at the hands of Thailand in their first match before losing 2-0 against Iran.
This was the first real taste for Bangladesh against opponents who are ranked much higher.
It was a platform for Bangladesh to gather experience and no doubt this experience will bode them well for the future competitions.
The Bangladesh national women’s football team took to the field on the back of a respectable 2-0 defeat against
higher-ranked Iran but failed to replicate that performance against the Filipinos.
However, Bangladesh goalkeeper Sabina Akhter played extremely well to keep the Filipinos attackers at bay.
The Philippines went ahead in the 19th minute when Maria Park
placed the ball into the far post after receiving a back pass from Samantha Camille.
Bangladesh got a real chance to open their tournament account in the 25th minute from a counter attack when Sabina Khatun ran free on a long ball which the onrushing Philippines goalkeeper could not gather.
Sabina managed to
take a shot at goal but a defender blocked the attempt.
Jesse Anne doubled the Filipinos’ lead in the 29th minute with a soft touch from a goalmouth melee which the Bangladesh goalkeeper Sabina failed to block.
Sabina got a genuine opportunity to reduce the difference through a counter attack in the 63rd minute after receiving a pass from Mainu but Sabina saw her shot gathered by the Philippines custodian.
The Philippines scored their third in the 85th minute when Catherine Ruth produce a goal from a long range effort.
Just before the final whistle, Maria scored her second goal to seal the victory with a tap from a goalmouth scramble.
-With New Age input
