Defending champions Bangladesh opened their SAFF Women’s U-19 Championship campaign by thrashing Bhutan 12-0 at Pokhara Stadium in Nepal on Saturday, overwhelming their opponents with relentless pressing, sharp movement and ruthless finishing. Peter Butler’s side controlled the game from the first whistle and never loosened their grip. The result instantly framed Bangladesh as the team everyone else must chase.
Bangladesh played the match almost entirely in Bhutan’s half. They pressed high, recycled possession quickly and forced errors until the defence cracked. Bhutan tried to survive, but Bangladesh stretched the pitch and attacked from every angle.
The breakthrough summed up the mood. Mamoni Chakma whipped in a direct corner that flew straight into the net, an Olimpico that exposed Bhutan keeper Sonam Choden’s shaky command. It opened the floodgates and shattered Bhutan’s belief.
Sauravi Akanda Prity tormented the right flank with pace and direct running. Her sharp one-two with Alpi Akter carved Bhutan open and allowed Trishna Rani to score Bangladesh’s second, finishing a move built on speed and movement. Moments later, Munki Akhter burst through midfield traffic and made it three.
Bangladesh smelled blood before the break. Munki struck again from close range to make it four, punishing Bhutan’s failure to clear their lines. Butler had already won the tactical battle and used the second half to rotate without losing control.
Bangladesh kept their structure after the interval. When Bhutan tried to press higher, Bangladesh used clever hold-up play and quick touches to break through the middle. Trishna completed her hat-trick with two composed finishes, one from open play and another after stealing the ball from a panicked goalkeeper.
Errors continued to haunt Bhutan. Alpi Akter pounced on a loose pass to score, then added another later with a calm finish from a perfect cross. Munki completed her four-goal haul by repeatedly attacking space behind the defence, winning one-on-one situations that Bhutan simply could not defend.
The goals kept coming because Bangladesh never eased off. Captain Arpita Bishwas powered in a header from a Mamoni corner, and Alpi sealed the rout with her third, converting another precise delivery from wide. Bangladesh finished with 12 and still looked hungry for more.
