U16 girls beat Vietnam 2-0, confirm ticket to second round
Dhaka: Bangladesh U16 women’s national team beat Vietnam 2-0 in their last Group F match of the AFC U16 Women’s Championship 2019 qualifiers and confirmed ticket to the second round of the qualifiers.
Goals from Tohura Khatun and Akhi Khatun helped the Red and Greens overcome Vietnam obstacle to claim unbeaten championship of Group F of the qualifiers.
Both teams started with real intent in the final game of the group at the BSSSM Mostofa Kamal Stadium in Kamlapur, Dhaka on Sunday afternoon.
Vietnam proved to be tough opponent for the girls in Red and Green as expected but Choton’s girls dug deep to carve out the first goal.
In the final minute of the first half, forward Tohura Khatun drew first blood for Bangladesh from a goalmouth melee at the Vietnam end. Maria and co. got the result of their persistence.
After the break, Bangladesh pressed the Vietnamese harder to secure a two goal cushion.
Sure enough, towering defender Akhi Khatun gave Bangladesh the much needed two goal lead in the 65th minute from a corner.
The second round of the qualifiers will be held from February 23 to March 3, 2019.
The teams that have qualified for the second round apart from Bangladesh are Australia, China PR, Iran, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines and Vietnam.
Top four teams from the second round will qualify for the finals to be held in Thailand from September 25-28, 2019.
The teams will join Thailand (hosts), Japan, North Korea and South Korea in a 8-team fight to claim the crown of Asia’s best.
