BD women cannot fight back, N Korea notch big win

Sports Reporter :

Bangladesh lost to China 2-0 in their first match of Group-B of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asian Cup.

They conceded a total of seven goals in two matches. On the other hand, Bangladesh has not yet been able to score a goal in the opponent’s net.

It was known that the match would be one-sided, a little fight was all that was wanted. There was a fight, but goalkeeper Mile did it all.

Even then, it did not save the day, Bangladesh was devastated.

On Friday, Bangladesh faced North Korea at the Western Sydney Stadium in Sydney of Australia in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

Where they still did not find the net, Bangladesh women lost 5-0 to North Korea women.

North Korea topped the table with 6 points in Group ‘B’ after winning two consecutive matches. They have confirmed the Super Eight.

The defeat to North Korea could have been even worse. However, goalkeeper Mile was also exceptional in this match. He saved at least six clear goals. Mile had to face a tough test in the fifth minute of the day.

He entered the box and blocked Han Jing Hong’s fast shot with agility. Mile blocked Hong’s sure goal again in the 11th minute.

North Korea found the net in the 14th minute.

But Video Assistant Referee (VAR) said that it was handball. VAR stopped the Koreans’ joy again in the 26th minute, and the goal was disallowed due to off-side.

Korea found the net again in the 31st minute. This time the goal was disallowed due to being directly off-side.

Bangladesh was saved by luck in three consecutive rounds. Seeing the situation, Head Coach Peter Butler made three changes in the 43rd minute.

He brought Sapna Rani, Anika Rania and Umehla Marma onto the field. However, that did not save the day, and the dam broke in extra time.

North Korea got a penalty in the 5th minute of added time of the first half. The referee blew the penalty whistle when Han Jing was fouled in the box. Myeong Jong took a successful spot kick. Korea opened the scoring.

Kim Kyung-yong scored a goal two minutes later. Bangladesh went into the break trailing after conceding a double in the 2nd minute.

North Korea took 16 shots in the first half, but Bangladesh could not take a single shot. The fighting spirit that Bangladesh showed in the previous match against China was absent against North Korea.

After the break, Mille made two consecutive saves in the 60th minute. However, she could not hold North Korea back after that, conceding a double again in the 2nd minute.
Cha Un-yong scored the third goal for North Korea in the 62nd minute.

And in the 64th minute, Kim Kyung-yong scored his second and the team’s fourth goal. And in the last minute of regular time, Kim Hye-yong made the difference 5-0.

Bangladesh was ineffective throughout the match, unable to mount any meaningful attack. The defense also failed to play a significant role. As a result, the dream of reaching the quarter-finals has become gray.

Bangladesh will face Uzbekistan in their third and final match in their Group-B on Monday. Afeida Khandaker, Ritu Porna Chakma & Co will have to win that match to become one of the two best third-placed teams in the three groups and advance to the Super Eight.