SAFF C’Ship: Defending champs Bangladesh avoid unthinkable upset against Maldives

Margao: The Nehru Stadium in Fatorda was finally buzzing.As Bangladesh stepped out for their SAFF Women’s Championship group-stage clash against Maldives on Thursday, a posse of journalists took over the media tribune. There was a group of Russian tourists who carried a giant banner, professing their love for Bangladesh in the VVIP gallery, and an enthusiastic fan waved the country’s flag in the stands from start to finish.No other team has attracted so much of love and attention.Aiming for a hat-trick of titles, Bangladesh started on a terrific note, scoring inside just 14 seconds. Everyone thought the defending champions would outdo India and score more than 11, but Maldives gave a wonderful account of themselves to tie the game at 2-2 at one stage.Eventually, Bangladesh won 4-2, a result that leaves them with a must-win situation against India to top the group on Sunday.It took Bangladesh just 14 seconds to take the lead through Sweden-based forward Anika Siddiqui. Mst Arfin scored the second. Maldives, who lost their opening tie against India 11-0, staged a comeback after Mariyam Noora scored a stunning long-range goal before the break, and Aminath Fazla put Maldives back into the tie by making it 2-2 at the hour mark.Bangladesh, however, got their act together in the final quarter with goals from substitute Sauravi Akandaprity and an added-time header by Kohati Kisku.“It was one of those games where you had to find a way to get over the line,” Bangladesh coach Peter Butler said after the game. “Their keeper did very well, and the other 10 (players) constantly just threw themselves around on the floor and tried to slow the game down, slow the momentum, which teams do. You have to find a way to be creative.”Bangladesh were superior. They mostly kept the ball on the ground and moved it swiftly from one end to the other.After the opener inside 14 seconds, Bangladesh were keen to inflate their tally. Keeper Fathimath Sausan was forced into making two good saves, one ball bounced off the crossbar. But as Maldives soldiered on for more than half an hour, a poor goal kick by captain Maeesha Hannan cost them dearly. The ball didn’t travel far enough and Bangladesh won possession in the attacking third. Arfin then got hold of the ball and unleashed a powerful grounder to make it 2-0.Maldives reduced the margin three minutes before the break, against the run of play. Mariyam Noora got hold of the ball just outside the centre and brilliantly lobbed it over Bangladesh keeper Mile Akter. The ball dipped just enough to hit the horizontal bar and cross the goal-line.In the second session, Maldives’ patience paid off in the 57th minute. It came from a counter. Mariyam quickly played Aminath Fazla through and the striker didn’t disappoint with her finish as she calmly slotted a grounder past the keeper.Bangladesh, however, saved themselves the blushes with two late goals as substitute Sauravi Akandaprity and Kohati Kisku avoided an unthinkable upset.