Bangladesh ended their AFC Under-16 Women’s Championship Qualifiers with their heads high when they lost to Iran narrowly by 2-1 goals at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Tuesday.
Iran emerged group champions thanks to the win to qualify for the final round in China while Bangladesh finished third behind India, who beat Jordan 6-3 in the first match of the day.
Bangladesh’s chance of qualifying had gone once India won their game as the local girls took the field against Iran to earn some pride.
The hosts took the lead in the 16th minute through Lipi Akhter.
They held their lead till the 60th minute before Fatemeh Geraeli drew level for the Iranians with a fierce header.
Geraeli confirmed the visitors win in the 70th minute by scoring from the penalty spot.
Despite the defeat Bangladesh Under-16 coach Golam Rabbani Choton said he was a proud man as his charges put up a spirited show throughout the competition ‘I am feeling really proud to be the coach of a team who fought neck to neck against their superior opponents’, said Choton at the post-match briefing.
Bangladesh beat Jordan and UAE in their first two matches and lost to Iran and India by an identical margin of 2-1.
-With New Age input
