Forward Tohura Khatun scored a brace as Bangladesh blanked Singapore by 3-0 goals in their first match of the two-match FIFA tier-1 Int’l Women’s Friendly football held at Birshreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in the city’s Kamalapur on Friday.
It was Bangladesh’s first international match victory after fourteen months. Sabina and Co. did not win any match after the SAFF Women’s Championship final held in September 2022 in Kathmandu. The girls in red and green finally broke the jinx on their sixth match this year.
Bangladesh had a chance to take the lead in the first minute of the match, but Tahura missed the scoring opportunity. Bangladesh however took the lead in the 3rd minute when defender Afeida Khandakar sent the ball home with a brilliant header which found the net after hitting the crossbar, before
Skipper Sabina Khatun did the spade work giving a small cross to Afeida from the close range.
Coach Saiful Bari Titu’s girls did not take long to double the lead. In the 16th minute, Maria Manda, after running down from the mid field, provided a pass to Tohura Khatun who sent the ball home with a perfect finish.
Bangladesh got another chance in the 26th minute but Captain Sabina Khatun’s shot from the vantage position sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.
After the resumption, Tohura completed the tally scoring her second and third goal for Bangladesh in the 60th minute with a perfect placing shot capitalizing on a long pass from Mashura. Singapore is twelve steps ahead than Bangladesh in ranking, but in the day’s match they were found off-coloured in field performance. Bangladesh were clearly ahead in ball possession and attack.
Earlier, Singapore beat Bangladesh back in 2017. Six years later, Bangladesh took sweet revenge by defeating Singapore at their home ground.
The second and ultimate match of the series will be held on Monday (Dec 4) at the same venue at 3 pm.
