Sagorika’s Hat-trick Leads Bangladesh to 5-1 Victory Over Bhutan
Young forward Mosammat Sagorika came off the bench to score a hat-trick, helping the Bangladesh women’s football team secure a 5-1 comeback victory over Bhutan in their first FIFA friendly match in Thimphu on Wednesday night.
Sagorika, who was the best player and top scorer of the SAFF Women’s U-19 Championship held in Dhaka earlier this year, made a significant impact on the game. She scored the equalizer early in the second half and added two more goals late in the match, saving Bangladesh from an embarrassing defeat at the Changlimthang Stadium in Bhutan’s capital.
First Victory Under Coach Peter Butler
This win marked the first victory under British coach Peter Butler, who had previously overseen 4-0 and 1-0 losses against Chinese Taipei in his first assignment in May-June. Butler praised Sagorika for her exceptional performance, noting her speed and talent, which suited the team’s style of play.
“Sagorika is a special talent. We’ve been warming her in the wings. The style of football that we want to play really suits her because she’s very quick over 5-10-15 meters,” Butler said at the post-match press conference.
A Challenging Start
Bangladesh conceded their first-ever goal against Bhutan, a team ranked 23 places below them in the FIFA rankings. Bhutan captain Pema Tshering capitalized on a communication error between Bangladesh goalkeeper Rupna Chakma and the defense, scoring in the 13th minute.
“We made a few sloppy errors, mistakes – self-inflicted. I think at times we tried to play in areas where there wasn’t really an option to play,” Butler explained. He noted that the team made some tactical changes in the second half after “a bit of prompting from the team management.”
Turning the Game Around
In the second half, Bangladesh found their rhythm. Veteran skipper Sabina Khatun and winger Ritu Porna Chakma also found the back of the net, contributing to the team’s emphatic victory. However, despite the positive result, the team missed a few more opportunities late in the game.
Butler acknowledged the team’s struggles in the first half, particularly their inability to adapt to Bhutan’s style of play. “I think we misunderstood a team who play very differently from what we play. They’re big and strong and they play very direct. We work on more passing movement patterns,” Butler said.
Looking Ahead
Despite the challenges, Butler was pleased with the outcome. “Pleased with the outcome. It’s one game down, but we’ve got one more game, and it could possibly be a completely different team. A younger team for the second game,” he added.
The second friendly match against Bhutan is scheduled to take place at the same venue on July 27.
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