By Sachit Subba • Football • Jul 13, 2025 15:56 PM • 149 views
Nepal's spirited comeback was undone in the dying seconds of injury time as hosts Bangladesh snatched a dramatic 3-2 victory in the SAFF U-20 Women's Championship on Sunday at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka. What began as a frustrating night for Nepal — trailing by two goals at half-time — nearly turned into a story of resilience and redemption. But as the clock ticked into the final moments of stoppage time, a lapse in defensive concentration proved costly, handing Bangladesh their second straight win of the tournament and pushing them closer to the title.
A Tale of Two Halves
Bangladesh asserted their dominance early, breaking the deadlock in the 13th minute. Midfield dynamo Moksammat Munki Akhtar sliced through Nepal's midfield before testing goalkeeper Sujata Tamang. Though defender Ganga Rokaya cleared the initial attempt off the line, an unmarked Sinha Jahan Shikha pounced on the rebound and slotted home. Things went from bad to worse for Nepal in the 36th minute. A teasing cross from the left wing by Shanti Mardi sowed chaos in the box. Sujata, under high pressure, fumbled the ball, allowing striker Moksammat Sagorika to poke in Bangladesh's second.
Nepal Fights Back
Despite the early blows, Nepal refused to fold. In the 77th minute, they clawed their way back into the match when Meena Deuwa was brought down in the box by Moksammat Joynab Bibi Rita. Anisha Rai stepped up and coolly converted the penalty, sending Bangladesh goalkeeper Swarna Rani Mandal the wrong way.
Four minutes from time, Nepal found the equaliser. A sublime left-wing delivery from Purnima Rai found Meena unmarked in the box, and she made no mistake, finishing with a composed one-touch strike that reignited Nepal's hopes.
The Cruel Twist
With the match seemingly headed for a draw, Bangladesh delivered the killer blow in the final seconds of injury time. Substitute Umhela Malmo broke free on the right flank, outpacing Nepal defender Maya Maske. Her cutback was inch-perfect, finding Shree Moti Trishna Rani between Sarita Nath and Anisha Rai. The forward struck cleanly past Sujata to seal a dramatic victory.
Implications and What's Next
The result puts Bangladesh firmly in the driver's seat with six points from two matches, following their emphatic 9-1 win over Sri Lanka in the opener. Nepal, which had thrashed Bhutan 6-1 in their first game, remain on three points. With just four teams in the competition and a double round-robin format determining the eventual champion, Nepal must now regroup quickly. They face Sri Lanka on Tuesday in a must-win encounter to stay in contention for the title.
Final Score:
Bangladesh 3 – 2 Nepal
Bangladesh Goals: Sinha Jahan Shikha (13'), Moksammat Sagorika (36'), Shree Moti Trishna Rani (90+')
Nepal Goals: Anisha Rai (77' - pen), Meena Deuwa (86')
