A couple of goals each from Shopna Rani and Aklima Khatun steered Bangladesh to win their opening match by 4-0 against Turkmenistan in the AFC Under-20 qualifying match on Friday.
Held at the Bir Sreshtha Mostafa Kamal Stadium, Komlapur, despite playing a one-sided game in the full 90 minutes match Bangladesh had to struggle hard to break the deadlock up to injury period of the first half.
Aklima led the hosts in the first minute of the first injury time when she doubled the lead on 71st minute. Shopna Rani, who scored many goals opened her account on the 81st and doubled the score in the next minute.
Bangladesh will face Iran in the last match on Sunday in a must win situation to move into the next round, as Iran beat Turkmenistan by 7-1 and ahead of Bangladesh in goal aggregate.
However, most of the time it was just a one-way traffic when Bangladesh played with full domination and went closer for six times to score goal but found the net for once in the added time of the opening 45 minutes.
Bangladesh, surly started the match as favourites against Turkmenistan, who conceded seven goals in their opener against Iran, played with full authority right from the first whistle. But after producing half a dozen scoring chances in the first half, due to fragile efforts from the forward could have only 1-0 lead.
The host girls pushed forward from the binning and put the opponents under tremendous pressure and the first chance came to their way in the very fifth minute with Shaheda Akter Ripa setting a good cross inside the area but none of the forwards could take a head.
Two minutes later Shaheda drilled an effort from inside the box but her aimless shot went out the post.
Bangladesh had the first real opportunity in the 15th minute but Aklima could not beat a defender to open the space nearer to the goal line.
However, on the 20th minute it was very much unfortunate when Aklima again failed to beat Turkmenistan goalkeeper Ayesha one-on-one situation, as she shot the ball straight to her.
Finally Bangladesh broke the deadlock in the first minute of three minutes added time with Aklima had the final touch inside goal-mouth melee when a corner kick floated in the area (1-0).
Bangladesh’s response came in the second half in a similar fashion with Aklima advancing centrally and taking a shot from inside the box, but her attempt was too central and was saved comfortably by Turkmenistan goalkeeper Ayesha on the 55th.
After making the breakthrough, Aklima doubled the margin on the 71st minute after a quick exchange of passes. Eti Kahtun made a right side cross inside the danger area, Aklima with an excellent piece of right foot touch on the running ball sent the ball into near post (2-0).
Bangladesh, who in fact played almost full time inside the Turkmenistan half became desperate to increase the winning margin and score two goals in a span of two minutes on the 81st and the 82nd minute.
This time Shopna Rani made the tally 3-0 on the 81st with a close range header on an Eti Khatun’s pin-pointed cross from right side (3-0). Shopna doubled her score in the very next minute and this time Aklima made a cut back inside and Shopna with her right footer beat the markers and slotting home (4-0).
Rest of the time also Bangladesh kept the Turkmenistan under pressure but could not increase the margin when they needed at least two more goals to equal the difference with Iran.