Bangladesh were feeling that they have accomplished their mission in the in the AFC Under-16 women’s qualifiers when they beat UAE by 6-0 in their second match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Friday. Bangladesh began the tournament as clear underdogs with little hopes to qualify for the final round in China. Initially they were told that two teams will qualify for the final round, so when they beat Jordan 1-0 in their opening match, the home side finally began dreaming for a spot in China.
Bangladesh’s hopes received a jolt once the Bangladesh Football Federation confirmed on Thursday that only one team will progress from this group to the final round.
The equation was changed after a last minute withdrawal of Qatar team, said the BFF.
‘We only came to know a day before the UAE game that only one team will qualify,’ said Bangladesh Under-16 coach Golam Rabbani Choton. ‘This was disheartening for us as we thought we have a good chance after the win against Jordan.
‘Now the job has become very difficult for us as we have to beat both India and Iran, the two top-ranked sides in the group.
‘One positive thing is that no one can take us lightly and we can very well qualify for the final round.’
Bangladesh coach expressed his satisfaction after fulfilling his promise he made before the tournament.
‘UAE were our target when the draw was held and we did it in style, we are happy to achieve our target,’ he said.
‘I told the girls to attack through wings and play one to one and they tried their best to play according my plan,’ Choton added.
Choton praised Sanjida Akter who missed her hat-trick chance in the game.
‘It is the only dissatisfaction for us as I thought she [Sanjida] would get the hat-trick but it did not happen,’ said Choton.
Sanjida echoed the same.
‘I am happy to score three goals in the two matches but I would have been happier if I got hat-trick,’ said Sanjida.
-With New Age input
