Bangladesh’s dream of becoming South Asia’s best in the U-17 women’s division is slipping away after a 1-1 draw with hosts Bhutan in the SAFF U-17 Women’s Championship on Friday afternoon in Thimphu.
The match carried huge weight in the title race, but Bangladesh could not find the winning edge. The result leaves India firmly in control of the table with 12 points from four matches, while Bangladesh sit second with 10 points from five outings. Should India defeat Nepal, the title will be decided before their final meeting with Bangladesh.
Bangladesh started brightly, raising hopes of keeping their championship bid alive. In just the sixth minute, winger Purnima slotted home to give the girls in red and green a deserved lead. But the advantage did not last. Deep into first-half added time, Bhutan struck back with an equaliser, silencing the Bangladeshi bench and sparking the home crowd into life.
The second half was a tense affair. Bangladesh pushed forward in search of a winner, carving out several chances in the dying minutes. However, heavy touches in the final third let them down repeatedly, and Bhutan’s disciplined defending stood firm, particularly from set-piece situations where Bangladesh usually thrive.
It was far from one-way traffic. Bhutan showed real intent, often breaking down the flanks and swinging dangerous crosses into the box. Their energy and direct play forced the Bangladeshi backline into action several times, highlighting how open the contest remained until the final whistle.
As the clock ran out, Bangladesh were left frustrated, knowing they had created enough openings but failed to make them count. The 1-1 draw not only robbed them of momentum but also handed the initiative to India. With the title now almost out of reach, Bangladesh’s U-17 women’s side are staring at yet another campaign without silverware, a stark contrast to the senior and U-20 teams who have already lifted SAFF trophies and impressed at Asian level.