Group B champions Bangladesh, struggling with injury problems, are confident about winning the 2nd semifinal of the Bangamata U-19 Women’s International Gold Cup Football when they meet Group A runners-up Mongolia on Tuesday, reports UNB.
The match will kick off at 6pm at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Hosts Bangladesh are worried about their two injury-grabbed key footballers --Krishna Rani Sarker and Sirat Jahan Shopna -- ahead of Tuesday’s semifinal as both the experienced booters are likely to miss the vital game.
But, Head Coach of Bangladesh Golam Rabbani Choton believed that the team can win the game without Krishna and Shopna.
“They’re our most experienced and important players. But, we can win the game without them. I hope they’ll join us in the final,” Choton said at a pre-match presse conference on Sunday at the BFF House.
Asked about their preparations, Choton said, “We’re playing matches eying victory. I think Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia are the same in tactics and skills. So, we’ll continue with our attacking football.”
Bangladesh emerged as Group B champions beating the UAE by 2-0 goals in the opening match on April 22 and managed a 2-1 victory over Kyrgyzstan in the 2nd match on April 26.
On the other hand, Mongolia got off to a flying start with an emphatic 3-0 win against Tajikistan, but were humiliated by 0-5 goals defeat against Laos on April 25 in their 2nd Group A match.
Mongolia’s Japanese coach Kawamoto Naoko expressed confidence that her team would put up a tough competition against their strongest opponent.
“Bangladesh are the strongest opponent of this tournament. But, we’re ready to do our best against them,” she said.