Bangladesh women’s football team delivered a powerful performance in their opening match of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers, crushing Bahrain 7-0 on Saturday in Yangon, Myanmar.

Facing an unfamiliar opponent and different conditions, Bangladesh started with high intensity and took control early in the match. In the 10th minute, forward Shamsunnahar Jr broke the offside trap and chipped the ball past the onrushing Bahraini goalkeeper with her left foot to give Bangladesh the lead.

Just five minutes later, she doubled the lead with an excellent solo goal, cutting past a defender and finishing with a sharp diagonal shot. In the 42nd minute, Kohati Kisuku scored from a corner, increasing the lead to 3-0.

Tahsina Akter added two quick goals in added time before the break, extending the lead to 5-0 by half-time. After the break, Bangladesh maintained their dominance. Although Shamsunnahar Jr missed two clear chances, the sixth goal came in the 60th minute when Bahraini defender Rawaan Al Ali mistakenly put the ball into her own net while trying to block a pass from Shamsunnahar Sr.

In the 74th minute, substitute Munki Akter sealed the win by scoring the seventh goal after receiving a through pass from Shaheda Akter Ripa and beating a defender with a calm finish.

Bangladesh is placed in Group C of the qualifiers. In the group’s other match, hosts Myanmar defeated Turkmenistan 8-0. Bangladesh will face Myanmar on July 2, with the winner earning a spot in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia.

MSK/