Bangladesh, one of the favourites in the SAFF Under-19 Women’s Championship, made a sensational start to their campaign on Saturday in Pokhara, Nepal. The Red and Greens delivered a commanding performance, defeating Bhutan 12–0 in their opening match. Star forwards Munki Akter and Trishna Rani both scored hat-tricks, while Alpi Akter and captain Arpita Biswas also found the net.
Despite the large margin of victory, it took some time for Bangladesh to break the deadlock. In the 28th minute, Mamoni Chakma put the team ahead with a precise direct corner kick. Trishna Rani then extended the lead in the 43rd minute, followed immediately by Munki Akter’s goal, effectively putting Bhutan out of contention before half-time. In added time of the first half, Munki Akter capitalised on a cross from Puja Das to score Bangladesh’s fourth.
The second half saw Bangladesh intensify their attacking play. Trishna Rani scored again in the 54th minute with a powerful strike and completed her hat-trick six minutes later. Alpi Akter contributed the seventh goal in the 73rd minute. Munki Akter struck again in the 81st minute, exploiting a lapse in the Bhutanese defence, before Alpi Akter added another five minutes later. During stoppage time, Munki Akter scored once more, followed by Arpita Biswas for the 11th goal, and Alpi Akter completed the scoring in the final moments, bringing the tally to 12–0.
Below is a summary of the goal scorers:
| Player | Goals Scored | Minute(s) Scored |
|---|---|---|
| Mamoni Chakma | 1 | 28 |
| Trishna Rani | 3 | 43, 54, 60 |
| Munki Akter | 4 | 44, 81, 90+1, 90+3 |
| Alpi Akter | 3 | 73, 86, 90+5 |
| Arpita Biswas | 1 | 90+2 |
| Puja Das (assist) | – | 45+ |
Despite the emphatic win, post-match discussions centred on the quality of the playing surface. Bangladesh’s British coach, Peter Butler, expressed concern, stating: “This pitch is entirely unsuitable for football. It has been coloured green to look like grass, but the outfield is far from adequate. Playing on such a surface does not allow our players to develop properly at this age level. We did not play the quality football we are capable of, but we adapted to the conditions as best as we could.”
Looking ahead, Bangladesh will face India on Monday. While the opening match demonstrated the team’s attacking prowess, Coach Butler emphasised the need for better playing conditions to ensure the technical and tactical growth of his young squad. The dominating 12–0 victory, however, sends a strong message to the competition about Bangladesh’s ambitions in the tournament.