Bangladesh, one of the favourites in the SAFF Under-19 Women’s Championship, made a striking start to their campaign on Saturday in Pokhara, Nepal. The Red-Greens convincingly defeated Bhutan 12-0 in their opening fixture, with both Munki Akter and Trishna Rani registering hat-tricks. Despite the emphatic scoreline, head coach Peter Butler expressed serious concerns over the quality of the playing surface.
Although the team eventually dominated, it took some time to break the deadlock. In the 28th minute, Mamoni Chakma put Bangladesh ahead with a direct corner kick. Trishna Rani extended the lead in the 43rd minute, before Munki Akter’s quick strike in the following minute effectively put Bhutan on the back foot. During added time of the first half, Bangladesh secured a fourth goal when Munki Akter controlled Pooja Das’s cross and slotted the ball into the net.
The second half saw the Bangladesh attack gain even more momentum. In the 54th minute, Trishna Rani struck powerfully to make it 5-0, and just six minutes later, she completed her hat-trick. Alpi Akter contributed the team’s seventh goal in the 73rd minute, and Munki Akter found the net again in the 81st minute, exploiting the goalkeeper’s positioning to increase the score to 8-0. Alpi Akter scored once more a few minutes later, and Munki Akter added another during added time. Captain Arpita Biswas then scored the eleventh goal, and Alpi Akter completed the tally in the dying moments of the match.
Bangladesh vs Bhutan: Goal Timeline
| Minute | Goalscorer | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | Mamoni Chakma | 1-0 | Direct corner kick |
| 43 | Trishna Rani | 2-0 | Powerful strike |
| 44 | Munki Akter | 3-0 | Quick follow-up |
| 45+ | Munki Akter | 4-0 | Added-time finish, first half |
| 54 | Trishna Rani | 5-0 | Strong shot |
| 60 | Trishna Rani | 6-0 | Hat-trick completed |
| 73 | Alpi Akter | 7-0 | |
| 81 | Munki Akter | 8-0 | Exploited goalkeeper positioning |
| 86 | Alpi Akter | 9-0 | |
| 90 | Munki Akter | 10-0 | Added-time strike |
| 90+1 | Arpita Biswas | 11-0 | Captain’s goal |
| 90+3 | Alpi Akter | 12-0 | Final goal of the match |
Despite the resounding victory, the state of the pitch dominated post-match discussions. British coach Peter Butler criticised the field, stating, “This pitch is completely unsuitable for football. It’s been painted green to look like grass, but the outfield is extremely poor.” He stressed that appropriate playing surfaces are essential for the development of young players: “At age-group levels, players need proper conditions to grow. I don’t feel we played particularly well, and frankly, good football is impossible on this field. Nonetheless, the team adapted well to the circumstances.”
Bangladesh now look ahead to their next challenge: a crucial fixture against India on Monday. For the team, it will be more than just a contest for goals; it is an opportunity to test their skills under less-than-ideal conditions and continue building momentum in the tournament.