Ankhi Khatun’s shot in the side post. Nepal’s goalkeeper Anjana Rana Magar caught Shamsunnahar Jr.’s bicycle kick with great skill. A few shots of Rituparna went out of the post for a short while. Another shot was saved from the goal line by Nepal defender Bimala BK. The first match of the Under-19 Women’s SAF Championship is a story of regret for not getting a goal for Bangladesh!
Favorite Bangladesh has started the tournament with a goalless draw with the age group of Nepal.
Bangladesh lost to Nepal twice in the 2016 Under-16 Women’s SAF Championship at Bhutan’s Changlimithang Stadium. Maria Mandara defeated Nepal 2-1 in the group stage. After that, Bangladesh became the champion by defeating Nepal 1-0 in the final.
The same tournament is being held at the under-19 level this time. Most of the players of this team of Bangladesh played in Seba Bhutan. But the girls of Bangladesh could not bring back the happy memories of three years ago.
The game has been played most of the time in half of Nepal. Bangladesh was also ahead in ball position. But Tahura Khatun and Shamsunnahar could not score a goal just due to lack of finishing.
From the start of the match until the break, Maria Mandara did not succeed in creating almost half a dozen goals in the half of Nepal. Nepal’s goalkeeper Anjana Rana Magar has repeatedly stood as a wall. Anjana was seen as the ‘Wall of China’ from the beginning till the end of the match.
Bangladesh could have gone ahead in the second minute of the match. Unfortunately for Bangladesh, the eye shot hit the side post. In the 15th minute, Maria’s shot from the left side hit Bimla and landed in front of Shamsunnahar. Shamsunnahar Jr. kicked the bicycle while flying. But Anjana of Nepal caught the ball.
These players from Nepal have come to Bangladesh after only two weeks of practice. However, 9 out of the eleven members of this Bangladesh team played domestic football for Bashundhara Kings. They have no shortage of party understanding. He also played regularly in the girls’ league. The girls who scored goals in domestic football came to the international stage this time and lost.
Nepal’s coach Hari Om Shrestha’s best strategy was to attack the defense. In that strategy, of course, he has fifty percent success. Nepali players have to be busy managing the defense. Although they were able to handle it properly, they did not rise against the counter-attack.
Bangladesh’s attacking edge increased in the second half. Bimala BK saved a definite goal from Rituparna’s shot in the 54th minute. Goalkeeper Anjana came out of the place but Bimala saved the goal line. In the 7th minute, Anjana returned Monika’s left foot shot from outside the D-box with great skill.
In fact, not to Nepal, in this match, Bangladesh seems to have lost points to Anjana. Bangladesh’s opponent in the next match on 13 December is Bhutan. In the first match of the day, Bhutan defeated Sri Lanka 5-0.
