In a crucial AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup qualifying match, Bangladesh’s hopes of reaching the main tournament suffered a severe blow after a 6-1 loss to South Korea.
The encounter, which saw Bangladesh needing at least a draw to secure automatic qualification, ended in disappointment against a vastly superior Korean side.
Coach Peter Butler’s team started the match strongly, creating early excitement by taking the lead, but ultimately failed to withstand Korea’s physical and tactical dominance.
The final scoreline underscored the gap between the two teams, as Bangladesh conceded six goals while managing only one.
The first half was competitive, with Bangladesh’s Sagorika equalizing to bring the score to 1-1 at halftime. Early pressure saw Bangladesh almost take the lead in the second minute when Afidara missed a close-range opportunity after a long pass, but South Korea’s goalkeeper Heiben stood firm.
The breakthrough for Bangladesh came in the 15th minute when Sagorika capitalized on a rebound after Shanti Mardi’s initial shot was saved, giving the visitors a momentary advantage.
However, Korea quickly responded; Cho Yong leveled the score in the 19th minute with a precise strike that Bangladesh’s goalkeeper, Swarna Rani Mondal, failed to save.
The second half saw a dramatic shift in momentum as Korea took control. Just two minutes after the restart, Cho Yong scored again, exploiting defensive lapses from Bangladesh. The Korean captain extended the lead further in the 60th minute with a deft chip over the goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation.
Bangladesh’s defensive errors proved costly again in the 86th minute when a penalty was awarded following a mistake by Nabiran, converted confidently by Lee Han.
The visitors continued to struggle as Lee Han scored once more in stoppage time, heading home a cross from a teammate inside the box.
Korea sealed their comprehensive victory with a final goal from Jin Herin in the dying moments. His shot slipped under Bangladesh’s two defenders and goalkeeper, emphasizing the visitors’ defensive vulnerabilities.
Despite the heavy defeat, Bangladesh still retain a slim chance to qualify for the main tournament as one of the best three runners-up.
However, the margin for error has dramatically narrowed, and the road ahead promises to be challenging.
SMS/
