Bangladesh women football team got off to a dream start in Group B of the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship’2015 Qualifiers upsetting giant Jordan by 1-0 goal in one of the two opening day’s matches at Bangabandhu National Stadium on Wednesday.
This was the first victory for Bangladesh U-16 women in international football.
After a barren first half, Sanjida Akhtar scored the match-winner for hosts Bangladesh from a penalty in the 70th minute amid huge jubiliation from a handful of crowd at the big bowl.
The referee awarded the spot kick to the home side when Jordanian defender Zeina Amjad brought down onrushing Bangladeshi substitute midfielder Lipi Akhtar in the danger zone and Sanjida Akhtar did no mistake to convert the spot kick.
Earlier, Bangladesh eves team conceded 1-6 goals defeat against Jordan in the AFC Under-19 Women’s Championship Qualifiers in Dhaka four years back.
In the FIFA world ranking, Bangladesh national women’s team is placed 117 against Jordan’s 57.
After the match, Sanjida Akhter said: “We made penalty practices for the last five days. So, I was not at all nervous in taking the penalty.”
Team head coach Golam Rabbani Chhoton said: “I advised the players to work hard till the last whistle… we got the result.”
Assistant coach of Jordan said: “We played our usual game, but Bangladesh played better to win the match.”
In the day’s match, Bangladesh eves team earned the deserving victory after dominating most of the proceedings against superior opponents.
The home side made several attempts towards the Jordanian territory, most of which were foiled near the D-box, while Jordan made one or two fruitless attempts.
In the 59th minute, Bangladesh goalie Ayesha brilliantly saved her castle after punching to safety a cracking drive by Jeeta Laith Ibrahim.
Overall, Bangladesh put up a spirited show. The Jordanian forward line failed to put pressure on the Bangladesh defence. In the dying minutes, Jordan tried hard but Leen Yasin Mohammed and Tasneem Abdu Rab’s effort fell short.
In the remaining group matches, Bangladesh will play UAE on October 17, India on October 19 and Iran on October 23, all at the BNS. Satellite TV Channel 9 will telecast all the matches live.
After the group matches, two top teams will qualify for the final round of the meet to be held in China next year.
Source: Prothom Alo
