Bangladesh makes flying start in Bhutan series

The SAFF Women's champions Bangladesh Football team made a flying start in the two-match FIFA International Women's Football (Tier-1) Series outplaying hosts Bhutan by 5-1 goals at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu Wednesday evening.
 
Youthful Bangladesh Women's Football team, which playing the two-match FIFA International Series as a part of their preparation for the ensuing SAFF Women's Championship to be held in Nepal next October, will play their remaining match on July 27 at the same venue.
 
This was the 3rd consecutive victory for the Bangladesh National Women's team against Bhutan after beating the Himalayan nation by 9-0 goals in the first SAFF Women's Championship in Cox's Bazar in 2010 and beat them by 8-0 goals in Kathmandu in 2022 on way to clinch their first-ever SAFF Women's Championship.
 
Experienced forward Sabina Khatun-led Bangladesh women's team dominated the first half by 1-0 goal.
 
This time Bangladesh were forced to field an youthful women's team without key players like Tohura Khatun, Shamsunnahar Jr, Afeida Khondakar, Shaheda Akter Ripa for the HSC exam and Krishna Rani Sarkar and Aklima Khatun for injury.
 
Earlier, Bangladesh Women's team, under their new British Head Coach Peter James Butler, played a two-match preparatory series in Dhaka against the Chinese Taipei and lost both the matches by 0-4 and 0-1 goal respectively.