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Published : 28 May 2026, 09:36 PM
Bangladesh stormed ahead within 11 seconds, hit the post and crossbar repeatedly, then survived a dramatic Maldives comeback before sealing a thrilling 4-2 victory to book their place in the SAFF Women’s Championship semi-finals.
The Group B clash at Goa’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium began explosively on Thursday.
Ritu Porna Chakma’s low cross found Anika Rania Siddiqui, who fired home in the 11th second of the game, triggering wild celebrations by the Sweden-based forward who made her fourth appearance for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh kept pressing. In the third minute, Ritu Porna nearly scored directly from a corner, only for the ball to strike the far post. Shamsunnahar Junior later missed narrowly before rattling the crossbar in the 28th minute from Maria Manda’s cross.
The pressure finally told in the 34th minute when Umehla Marma blasted in from close range off another Shamsunnahar delivery to make it 2-0.
But the match suddenly turned.
In the 41st minute, Maldives’ Mariyam Noora capitalised on defensive hesitation to chip goalkeeper Mile Akter after a through ball from Raniya Ibrahim, reducing the deficit against the run of play.
Bangladesh’s defence then unravelled early in the second half. Aminath Fazla punished a costly mistake from Afida Khatun in the 57th minute, racing through and beating Mile to level the score at 2-2.
Coach Peter Butler immediately introduced Shaheda Akter Ripa and Tohura Khatun to revitalise the women in green and red.
In the 64th minute, Ritu Porna’s cross slipped through the goalkeeper’s gloves before Suravi Akand Preeti calmly fired home to restore Bangladesh’s lead.
Tohura went close again before Kohati Kisku headed in from Ritu Porna’s free-kick deep into stoppage time to secure victory.
The win sends Bangladesh into the semi-finals alongside India, who had crushed Maldives 11-0 earlier in the tournament.
Bangladesh now face India on Sunday in a decisive battle for top spot in the group.
The sparse Goa crowd was meanwhile energised by six Russian supporters, friends of the Bangladesh players, who chanted “Bangladesh, Bangladesh” and “Go, go” throughout the match.
