Bhutan: Bangladesh U-18 Women’s team emerged Group B champion to reach the semifinals of the maiden SAFF U-18 Women’s Championship beating Nepal by 2-1 goals in their last group match at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan on Tuesday.

Touring Bangladesh will play Group A runners-up hosts Bhutan in the 2nd semifinal on Friday while Group A champion India will play the first semifinal against Group B runners-up Nepal on the same day and same venue.

In the day’s match, Bangladesh led the first half by 2-0 goals against the Himalayan nation. 

Sirat Jahan Shopna, who made a double hat-trick scoring seven goals in their 17-0 goals victory over Pakistan on Sunday, opened the Bangladesh account first in the 16th minute by a placing shot after beating opponent custodian from the right wing (1-0) and dominated the scorer list making eight goals in two matches.

Krishna Rani Sarkar doubled the Bangladesh margin in the 32nd minute by placing the ball over advancing opponent custodian, utilising a long pass of her fellow custodian (2-0). 

Reashi Kumari reduced the Nepalese margin scoring a goal in the 2nd minute of the stoppage time (92nd minute) (2-1).  

Earlier in the different age group matches, Bangladesh Women’s team beat Nepal on regular occasions. 

Bangladesh beat Nepal by 6-0 goals in the SAFF U-15 Championship in Dhaka in 2017, beat them again by 3-0 goals in the same tournament in Bhutan in 
August last and outplayed Nepal by 14-0 goals in the AFC U-14 zonal meet in Kazakhstan in 2016.

Earlier, Bangladesh U-18 Women’s team, riding on a double hat-trick by Sirat Jahan Shopna, reached the semifinal of the maiden SAFF U-18 Women’s Championship from Group B crushing Pakistan by 17-0 goals in their first appearance at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu.

Earlier in the group matches, Nepal made a flying start crushing Pakistan by massive 12-0 goals while India also made a good start beating hosts Bhutan 4-0 and Bhutan outplayed the Maldives 13-0 and India beat Maldives 8-0 goals.