Bangladesh women’s national football team notched up an emphatic 6-0 win against visiting Malaysia in their first of the two-match friendly series at the Bir Shrestha Shaheed Sepahi Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamlapur on Thursday.
Bangladesh defender Akhi Khatun scored a brace while captain Sabina Khatun, forward Sirat Jahan Shopna, midfielder Monica Chakma and forward Krishna Rani Sarkar scored once each for the first win in their first-ever international friendly match at home.
Returning to the international fold after a nine month break, Golam Rabbani Choton’s charges pulled a surprise against mighty Malaysia, who are 61 places ahead of Bangladesh (146th) in FIFA rankings.
It was a one-sided domination game as Bangladesh went to first half break with a 4-0 lead before firing the opponents net twice in the second half to get their first-ever victory against Malaysia.
In their first meeting in 2017, Bangladesh conceded a 1-2 goal defeat against Malaysia in an international friendly match held in Singapore.
Bangladesh started to play organised game with pressing from the beginning and squandered couple of chances before Akhi opened the scoring in the ninth minute by placing the ball home on a corner by midfielder Maria Manda.
Bangladesh continued their pressing and came close to scoring twice inside the 20th minute but Krishna and midfielder Sanjida were denied by Malaysian keeper Nurul Azruin Binti Mazlan.
Bangladesh’s experienced forward Sabina received a through pass from Monika from the right side and dribbled past opponent defenders and Mazlan to send the ball into an open net in the 26th minute.
Akhi made it 3-0 also by placing the ball from goalmouth after a cross from Sabina in the 30th minute before Shopna extended the lead 4-0 by scoring in the 45th minute by tapping the ball home on a short pass from Sabina.
Monika and Krishna scored once each in the 67th and 74th minute respectively. Monica scored in her third attempt from inside the box before Krishna put the final nail in the Malaysia coffin by heading the ball home.
The second game between the two sides will be held at the same venue on June 26.
