Bangladesh made a sensational start to their AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers campaign with a resounding 7-0 victory over Group C rivals Bahrain, once again proving they are a far stronger side than their modest FIFA ranking of 128 suggests.
Peter Butler’s side seized control from the outset, dictating play with crisp passing and composed build-up against a physically superior Bahrain outfit ranked 36 places higher at 92.
The women in red and green delivered a commanding first-half performance, netting five goals before the break. They eased the tempo in the second half but still added two more while maintaining a clean sheet throughout.
Tohura Khatun led the charge with a brace, while Shamsunnahar Junior, Ritu Porna Chakma, Kohati Kisku, and Munki Akter each found the net. The seventh goal came via a Bahrain own goal, capping off a dominant display.
This emphatic win puts Bangladesh in a strong position ahead of their crucial second group match against top-ranked Myanmar, who sit at 55th in the world and opened their campaign with a win over bottom-ranked Turkmenistan (141).
Butler’s charges will look to carry this momentum into the clash with Myanmar as they continue their push for qualification.
