Rajshahi Stars’ hopes of reaching the final round of the AFC Women’s Champions League came to an end after they suffered a 2-1 defeat to hosts Sabah FC in their second Group A match in Kota Kinabalu on Thursday.
The Bangladesh champions were beaten 4-0 by East Bengal FC in their opening game and needed a positive result against Sabah to keep their campaign alive. Despite making a better start, they could not turn their chances into goals.
Rajshahi threatened twice in the opening 11 minutes but failed to finish either opportunity. They later thought they had taken the lead when Tohura Khatun found the net after the half-hour mark, only for the effort to be ruled out for handball inside the penalty area.
Sabah took advantage before the break. Three minutes before half-time, Misaki Nakayama worked her way past three Rajshahi defenders before finding Starks, who finished into the bottom corner to put the hosts ahead.
Rajshahi continued to search for a way back after the restart. Their best chance came in the 62nd minute when Shamsunnahar collected a long pass from Bimala BK. She got her shot beyond the advancing Junaidi, but the effort went just wide of the right post.
Sabah strengthened their position in the 80th minute as Starks scored again to complete her brace.
Rajshahi reduced the deficit seven minutes later through Mosammat Sultana. From the edge of the box, she produced a long-range effort that looped over Junaidi and found the back of the net.
The Bangladesh side pressed for an equaliser in the closing stages but could not find another goal, allowing Sabah to claim all three points.
The defeat leaves Rajshahi without a point from their first two matches and ends their hopes of progressing to the 12-team final round. They will finish their group campaign against Rovers FC of Guam on August 23.
