By Maksuda Lisa (Dhaka Bureau)
After holding the crown of South Asian football supremacy for two consecutive editions, the Bangladesh women’s football team missed out on their hat-trick title mission. The Tigresses relinquished the trophy after a 1-3 defeat to hosts India in the final of the SAFF Women’s Championship held in Goa, India. Bangladesh’s dreams were previously shattered by this same Indian side back in the 2016 final.
Match Analysis: Defensive and Goalkeeping Blunders Cost Bangladesh
Bangladesh, which won the last two SAFF tournaments as undefeated champions, appeared sluggish and out of rhythm from the very beginning of this edition. They had already suffered a 3-0 defeat against India in the group stage. In the final, British coach Peter Butler’s disciples conceded three goals due to costly blunders in both the defense and goalkeeping departments.
Fading Hopes in the Second Half
After falling behind in the 42nd minute, Bangladesh found an equalizer during the first-half injury time (45+1 minute) thanks to a clinical finish by Ritu Porna Chakma. In the previous match against Nepal, Ritu Porna’s ‘Olympic goal’ had similarly breathed life back into the team.
Bangladesh’s Rituparna Chakma equalized (1-1) with a last-minute goal in the first half in the final of the Women’s SAFF Football Championship.
‘Bangladesh failed to sustain their first-half momentum in the second period. Sanfida’s header in the 50th minute, followed by Kom’s strike in the 82nd minute- born out of defender Afida Khandakar’s mistake- shattered Bangladesh’s dreams of a hat-trick title.’
Although Bangladesh attempted to equalize in the second half, their attacks lacked sharp execution. The team’s mainstay, Ritu Porna, was kept under tight surveillance by the Indian defense and could not create any clear-cut opportunities. Throughout the match, it was Bangladesh’s own unforced errors, rather than the brilliance of India’s attackers, that acted as the primary catalyst for the defeat.
Despite leaving the field with the runners-up trophy, football enthusiasts remain hopeful that the Tigresses will rectify their mistakes from this tournament and soon reclaim their dominance in South Asian football.
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The Writer:
Maksuda Lisa: Senior journalist and Contributor, Pressenza- Dhaka Bureau.
