The Bangladesh national women`s football team secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Nepal in the first semifinal of the SAFF Women`s Championship in Goa, India, on Wednesday. A late stoppage-time goal guaranteed the victory for the women in red and green during a highly competitive encounter. This crucial win marks the third consecutive time Bangladesh has advanced to the prestigious regional tournament final.The defending champions remain firmly on track to secure a historic hat-trick of titles.
The match initiated with intense pressure from both sides as they fought for early structural dominance. Nepal claimed an initial lead in the 23rd minute following a defensive miscalculation by the Bangladeshi backline. Goalkeeper Mili Akhter failed to cleanly clear a sharp corner kick from Deepa Shahi, allowing Gita Rana to capitalize on the loose ball and find the net. Nepal nearly doubled their advantage in the 36th minute when Preeti Rai`s powerful strike struck the crossbar. Bangladesh responded aggressively to the deficit, equalizing in the first minute of first-half stoppage time when a brilliant corner from star winger Rituporna Chakma slipped past Nepalese goalkeeper Anjila.
Seeking to amplify their offensive momentum, head coach Peter Butler executed vital tactical substitutions during the second half. He introduced Tohura Khatun and Shahmsunnahar Junior to replace Umehla Marma and Sourabhi Akanda Prity. In the final minutes of the match, Butler deployed forward Mosammat Sagarika, who ultimately became the operational hero of the afternoon. In the 93rd minute, Sagarika safely converted a precision cross from Shamsunnahar Junior, evading Nepalese defenders to slide the ball into the net.
The match faced tense moments as the referee from Bhutan extended the designated six minutes of stoppage time to nearly thirteen minutes. Nepal had earlier threatened to reclaim the lead in the 47th minute when Rekha Poudel`s shot struck the post, while Nepalese keeper Anjila denied Sagarika in the 78th minute with an incredible save. Despite the prolonged pressure, the Bangladeshi defense held firm to maintain their slim advantage until the final whistle. Bangladesh previously defeated Nepal in both the 2022 and 2024 editions to lift the regional trophy.
