On Tuesday, the Bangladesh women’s football team created history by defeating India in the group-deciding game in the SAFF Women’s Championship at Kathmandu’s Dasharath Rangasala Stadium.
Bangladesh defeated five-time SAFF winners India 3-0 in their last group-stage match. Sirat Jahan Swapna scored twice and Krishna Rani Sarkar scored once. Bangladesh, which is placed 89 places lower in the FIFA rankings than India, totally outplayed its opponents throughout the game.
The previous best result for Bangladesh vs India was a goalless draw during the 2016 SAFF Championship in India.
Although both Bangladesh and India had already qualified for the semifinals, the girls in red and green finished first in Group A.
On Tuesday, the Indian women’s team was defeated 0-3 by Bangladesh in the third and final group match in the SAFF Women’s Championship in Kathmandu. MS Jahan Shopna scored twice for Bangladesh, while Srimoti Sarkar scored once to deliver India a loss. The setback, however, had no bearing on India’s semifinal qualifying, since the Blue Tigresses had already secured their place in the last four, where they will face Nepal on Saturday at the same site.
Bangladesh enjoyed the early advantage, taking the lead in the 12th minute when Sarkar threaded a ball through to Shopna, who slid it between two players and blasted it past the goalie.
In the 19th minute, Anju Tamang earned a free kick 22 yards from goal, giving India their first game chance. Priyanka Devi, a youngster, approached the dead ball but curled it wide from the woodwork.
Sarkar extended Bangladesh’s lead minutes later, darting into the Indian area from the left wing and finishing past the goalie.
India attempted many long diagonals to catch the Bangladeshi Highline off guard, but to no avail, as the first half ended with the latter leading by two goals heading into the tunnel.
The Blue Tigresses got off to a good start in the second half, earning a free-kick on the right wing, which Priyanka fired in towards Renu, who had escaped her opponent.
The ball, however, took an unusual bounce off the curve, ricocheted off Renu’s midriff, and landed safely in the hands of Bangladesh goalie Rupna Chakma.