Hosts Bangladesh almost secured the Group C title to reach the final round of the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship beating their archrival Chinese Taipei by 4-2 goals in a vital group match at the floodlit Bangabandhu National Stadium here on Saturday evening.
With the day’s feat, Bangladesh girls smartly took a solo lead in the six-team Group C with all-win record securing full 12 points from straight four matches while Chinese Taipei went down to the 2nd slot for the first time with nine points from four outings.
Bangladesh need just a draw in their remaining group match against middle-rated United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday to reach the final round of the meet in China next year as the Group C champions.
The group title of Bangladesh will not be hampered if the host concede a close margin defeat against the UAE or Chinese Taipei will settle for draw against Iran on the same day at 3 pm.
Bangladesh also enjoyed the upper hand scoring 22 goals conceding two while Chinese Taipei scored 23 goals conceding five.
In the day’s key match, Chinese Taipei took lead in the 11th minute as their captain Su Yu-Hsuan fired the Bangladesh net for the first in the ongoing meet by a powerful shot from about 35 yards (1-0).
Defender Nargis Khatun leveled the margin for Bangladesh in the 27th minute converting a penalty correctly (1-1).
Chinese Taipei defender Chen Chiao-Yi fouled Bangladesh captain Krishna Rani in the danger zone and the referee awarded the penalty in favour of Bangladesh. For the offense, Chen Chiao-Yi received 2nd yellow cards in the match and got marching order reducing her side to 10 players.
Another defender Shamsunnahar put Bangladesh ahead in the 38th minute from another spot kick (2-1). Taipei captain Su Yu-Hsuan fouled Krishna Rani in the penalty area and referee pointed her figure for the 2nd penalty.
Krishna Rani Sarker scored the 3rd goal for Bangladesh in the 56th minute by a left footer over the opponent custodian off an Anuching Mogini pass (3-1).
Chinese Taipei went down again by a suicidal goal when their defender Teng Pei Lin sent the ball into her own net from goalmouth melee while trying to foil a corner of Sanjida Khatun in the 78th minute (4-1).
Wu You Jou reduced the margin for Chinese Taipei in the 88th minute by a right footer (4-2).
Chinese Taipei were reduced to nine players in the 90th minute when defender Teng Pei-Lin was sent off after receiving double yellow cards.
