Bangladesh marched into their third consecutive SAFF Women’s Championship final after a thrilling 2-1 victory over Nepal in the tournament's first semifinal at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa, on Wednesday.
Super-sub Sagorika struck the decisive blow in the 84th minute to cap off a dramatic comeback. Latching onto a precise pass from Tohura Khatun, the forward deftly poked the ball past two trailing Nepali defenders and into the back of the net to seal the victory.
The high-stakes encounter began with defending champions Bangladesh under heavy pressure as Nepal dominated early possession.
The breakthrough came in the 23rd minute when Nepal’s Gita Rana flicked home a sharp corner from Dipa Shahi to hand her side an early advantage. Nepal nearly doubled their lead in the 36th minute, but goalkeeper Mile Akter managed a crucial deflection to push Priti Rai's long-range effort onto the woodwork.
Bangladesh found their lifeline deep into first-half stoppage time through a spectacular, direct corner-kick from Ritu Porna Chakma.
The midfielder curled an "Olympic goal" straight into the net from the flag-kick to equalize just before the interval, dramatically shifting the game's momentum.
The second half turned into a physical, end-to-end battle. Nepal's Rekha Poudel struck the post early in the second period, while Mile pulled off several vital saves to keep the holders level.
At the other end, Nepal's custodian Anjana Rana Magar kept her side in the contest with a spectacular 78th-minute diving save to deny Sagorika.
However, Sagorika made amends six minutes later with her clinical finish, ensuring Bangladesh preserved their four-year regional dominance and booked their spot in the final.
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