Bangkok: The Indian women’s futsal team went down 1-3 against Bangladesh in their second outing of the SAFF Women’s Futsal Championship at the Hua Mak Indoor Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday.
Bangladesh captain Sabina Khatun (7’, 13’) scored a brace while Sumaya Matsushima sealed the victory with a goal in the 31st minute. For India, Arya More reduced the margin with a 37th-minute consolation goal.
Coming into the match on the back of a historic first-ever international win against Maldives, the 86th-ranked India knew they faced a far tougher challenge against a Bangladesh side ranked 44th in the world. Despite the gulf in experience and ranking, the Futsal Tigresses began brightly and created the first clear chance of the game.
Khushbu Saroj found herself clean through on goal early on and struck a low effort, but Bangladesh goalkeeper Shopna Akter Jili reacted quickly to make a sharp save.
That proved to be India’s only meaningful threat in the opening period. Bangladesh soon asserted control, moving the ball with confidence and pressing aggressively across the court. The Indian defence struggled to cope with the fluid attacking movement, particularly the partnership between Srimoti Krishnarani Sarkar and captain Sabina Khatun, which repeatedly stretched the backline.
The breakthrough arrived in the seventh minute when Sabina won possession high up the court before feeding Srimoti. The forward drove purposefully past two defenders and returned the ball into Sabina’s path, allowing the captain to finish calmly and open the scoring.
Bangladesh doubled their advantage four minutes later in unfortunate circumstances for India. Srimoti’s diagonal run created space for a cross into the area, and goalkeeper Tanvi Mavani misjudged the delivery, allowing Sabina to tap in at the far post for her second goal.
India showed more intent at the start of the second period and nearly pulled one back when Khushbu squared a fine ball across goal for Sonali Mondal. However, Sonali hesitated under pressure, giving Shopna enough time to recover and make the save.
Bangladesh responded with renewed attacking urgency.
