Substitute Trishna Rani powered defending champions Bangladesh to earn the 2nd consecutive victory in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U-20 Women’s Championship’2025 with a dramatic 3-2 goals victory against their main contender Nepal at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka yesterday (July 13) evening.
When day’s match was almost heading for a 2-2 draw, then forward Trishna Rani scored the match-winning goal for Bangladesh just few seconds before the final whistle, the last minute of the added time, by a neat placing ground shot from danger zone, off a Umehla Marma pass (3-2).
Earlier, host Bangladesh clearly dominated the first half by 2-0 goals playing a good football, but they went down in the race as Nepal reorganised themselves in the 2nd half playing an attacking football, especially in the last 25 minutes.
Sinha Jahan Shikha opened the Bangladesh account in the minute by (1-0).
Forward Mst Sagorika, who made a hattrick in the opening match against Island nation Sri Lanka, scored the 2nd goal for Bangladesh in the minute of the day’s match (2-0).
Anisha Rai reduced the Nepalese margin one back in the 76th minute from a penalty (2-1) while Nepal leveled the margin in the 86th minute by planned attack (2-2).
Earlier. Both the Bangladesh and Nepal were restricted to 10-man in the 55th minute of the match as Bangladesh’s leading scorer Sagorika and Simran Rai of Nepal got direct red card for involving clash with each other.
In the day’s other match, Bhutan tasted the first victory in their 2nd match outplaying Sri Lanka by 5-0 goals at the same venue Sunday afternoon after suffering 1-6 goals defeat against Nepal in their first match.
Kelden Wangmo scored first two goals in the 2nd and 15th minutes, Sangay Wangmo also netted two goals in the 79th and 87th minutes while Namsel Wangzom scored the other goal for Bhutan, which dominated the first half by 3-0 goals.
After the day’s 2nd round matches, hosts Bangladesh dominated the double-leg six-match competition securing full six points from straight two matches.
Nepal and Bhutan have secured three points each playing two matches, but Nepal are in the 2nd slot by virtue of better goal difference.
Earlier, Bangladesh made a flying start in the four- nation SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship crushing Sri Lanka by 9-1 goals while Himalayan nation Nepal also made a good start outplaying Bhutan by 6-1 goals in two opening day’s fixtures at a water- soaked slippery and fast ground of Bashundhara Kings Arena last Saturday.
In the other double league basis matches, Bangladesh will play Bhutan on July 15, again Bhutan on July 17, Sri Lanka on July 19 and Nepal on July 21.
After the league basis matches, top team will be the champions.
Bangladesh and India emerged joint champions in the last version of the meet in Dhaka in 2024 after playing 1-1 draw in the schedule time and 11-11 goals draw in penalty shootout in the final. But India did not compete this time as they withdrew their team in last moment.