Bangladesh women demolish Maldives 6-0 to barge into SAFF Championship final

The Bangladesh women's football team have crushed the Maldives 6-0 in the semifinals of the SAFF Championship at the Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri in India.

They now face the three-time champions India in the final on Wednesday.

Monday's win meant Bangladesh have continued to hold on to their record of never losing a match to the Maldives.

While forwards Sirat Jahan Swapna scored a sensational hattrick, Sabina Khatoon scored a brace  while defender Nargis Khatoon got one in the 52nd minute of the game to throw their opponents into a tizzy. 

After the rather defensive display against India, the coach had spoken of switching to attack mode against the Maldives. The tactic could not have paid off better.

A brilliant goal from Swapna gave Bangladesh the early lead in the 11th minute.

The Sabina-Swapna combine managed to double the score for Bangladesh in the 22nd minute, with Swapna finding the nets to put her team 2-0 up.

Sabina found her mark in the 48th minute and four minutes later it was the turn of Nargis to dazzle the Maldives team with another wonderful goal.

The Maldivian hopes of bouncing back in the game was buried in the 58th minute when Swapna converted a return pass from Sabina into her hattrick.

 

A penalty kick from Sabina took her team to 6-0 in the 64th minute.

After defeating Afghanistan 6-0 in their opening match, Bangladesh finished had a goalless tie in their match against hosts India on Saturday.

Despite a tie on points, the difference of goals scored ensured a berth in the semis for Bangladesh that saw them emerge as the group champions for the first time in the tournament.

Earlier on Monday, India defeated Nepal 3-1 in the first semifinal to secure a berth in the final of the tournament for the fourth straight time.