Bangladesh Women’s Football League champions Rajshahi Stars brought their maiden AFC Women’s Champions League preliminary group stage to an emphatic close, thrashing Guam’s Rovers FC 8-0 in Malaysia. Despite back-to-back losses in their opening fixtures ruling out qualification for the knockout rounds, the Bangladeshi side mounted an irresistible attacking display to ensure their continental debut ended on a high.
The campaign had proved demanding from the outset for the tournament debutants. Rajshahi Stars opened their Group A fixtures with a heavy 4-0 defeat against Indian giants East Bengal, before suffering a narrow 2-1 loss to Malaysian hosts Sabah FA in a fiercely contested follow-up. Those setbacks ended any prospect of advancing to the quarter-finals, transforming their concluding group match into a battle for professional pride and a vital opportunity to demonstrate their capability on the Asian stage.
From the opening whistle, the Bangladeshi champions seized total control of midfield, unpicking the Rovers FC defence with fluid passing and incisive wide play. Forward Tohura Khatun led the scoring, delivering a clinical hat-trick characterised by sharp movement inside the penalty area. Striker Shamsunnahar contributed a composed brace, whilst midfield orchestrator Monika Chakma and Shamsunnahar Junior registered a goal apiece. A late own goal by the beleaguered Guamanian backline sealed the eight-goal rout.
The victory earned Rajshahi Stars a third-place finish in Group A, concluding their maiden continental tournament with three points from three matches. Although progression eluded them, the campaign marks a significant milestone for women’s club football in Bangladesh. As the country’s first side to participate in the newly inaugurated AFC Women’s Champions League, the squad has established a valuable benchmark for domestic champions aspiring to compete among the continent’s elite.
