Bangladesh retain SAFF Championship title as Ritu Porna stuns Nepal

Bangladesh women’s football team retained their SAFF Championship title after edging hosts Nepal 2-1 in an exciting final Wednesday in Kathmandu’s Dasharath Rangasala Stadium.

After intense first half action ended goalless but saw both the teams hitting the post, Monika Chakma gave the visitors the lead in the 52nd minute but Bangladesh’s joy was short-lived as Amisha Karki brought parity just four minutes later.

Monika nudged the ball past the Nepal goalkeeper after a through ball from captain Sabina Khatun.

But Amisha soon equalized, finding the back of the net past keeper Rupna Chakma after the ball evaded two Bangladesh defenders.  

Ritu Porna Chakma then silenced the 15,000 fans in Nepal’s capital with the winner in the 80th minute that saw the Bengal Tigresses defend the crown after their maiden SAFF triumph in 2022.

Ritu Porna scored with a wonderful shot coming in from the left flank to spark wild celebrations in the Bangladesh dugout.

Bangladesh women’s team head coach Peter Butler deployed a 4-3-3 formation, making one change to the side, bringing in the fit again Shamsunnahar Jr in place of Mosammat Sagorika after the former missed the semi-final with injury.

The Bengal Tigresses had started their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Pakistan before outplaying five-time winners India 3-1 to emerge as group champions.

The women in red and green then thrashed Bhutan 7-1 in the semi-finals to set up a repeat of the 2022 final where they beat hosts Nepal 3-1 to clinch their maiden SAFF title.

RESULT
Nepal 1 (Amisha 56)- 2 Bangladesh (Monika 52, Ritu Porna 80)