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In a dominant display, the Bangladesh Women’s Under-20 football team secured a 5-0 victory against Sri Lanka in their second match of the tournament at the Bashundhara Sports Complex Football Practice Ground on Saturday. With this win, Bangladesh is now one step away from retaining the championship title, needing only a draw in their final match against Nepal on Monday to clinch the trophy.Bangladesh had previously thrashed Sri Lanka 9-1 in their opening match. In the return fixture, Coach Peter Butler utilized 16 players, showcasing the squad’s depth and versatility. The team’s pipeline of talent was evident as Butler rotated players, including three different captains across five matches and fielding all 23 squad members, including goalkeeper Ferdousi Akter Sonali, who started in this match. Despite a changed lineup, Bangladesh took a 2-0 lead in the first half. In the 25th minute, midfielder Kanon Rani Bahadur opened the scoring with a low shot from a crowded box, marking her first goal of the tournament. In first-half injury time, Puja Das doubled the lead after capitalizing on a rebound from Trisha Rani’s shot, which had struck the post after being parried by the Sri Lankan goalkeeper. After the break, Butler made four substitutions, bringing on key players, including main captain Afeida Khandakar Pranti, Umela Marma, Munki Akter, and Swapna Rani Mondal. The changes bolstered Bangladesh’s dominance. Puja Das scored her second goal in the 54th minute with a long-range shot from 20 yards that deflected off the Sri Lankan goalkeeper and crossed the line. Trisha Rani added her fourth goal of the tournament in the 86th minute, dribbling past a defender to score. In injury time, Afeida Khandakar Pranti sealed the 5-0 rout with a penalty, converting her second attempt after the referee disallowed her initial effort. To retain the title, Bangladesh needs at least a draw against Nepal. A one-goal loss would hand Nepal the championship due to their superior goal difference (30 goals scored compared to Bangladesh’s 24).
