Sports Desk:

Mosammat Sagorika slammed a treble as Bangladesh kicked off the SAFF Under-20 Women’s Championship 2025 campaign with a 9-1 win over Sri Lanka at Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka Friday afternoon.

Munki Akter scored twice while Sapna Rani, Sinha Jahan Shikha, Rupa Akter and Shanti Mardi netted one each to seal the big-margin victory.

It was the inaugural match of the four-nation competition.

Sapna gave Bangladesh the lead in the second minute with a stunning free-kick from almost 30 yards out.

Munki doubled the advantage two minutes later, beating Sri Lankan keeper Tharushika Dodamgodage on one-on-one.

Sagorika placed into an empty net after collecting a cross from Shikha to extend the lead in the 37th minute.

Munki scored again three minutes into the second half as she converted Sagorika’s low cross from the six-yard box.

Shikha sent substitute Shanti’s cross inside the net to make it 5-0 two minutes later.

Sagorika got her second after dribbling and skipping past defenders shortly afterwards before clinching the treble with a placing shot in the 58th minute.

Rupa made it 8-0 in the 85th minute.

Layansika Jasotharan pulled one back two minutes into stoppage time but substitute Shanti restored the gap within a minute.

Bangladesh will take on Nepal in their next fixture at the same venue Sunday.

RESULT

Bangladesh 9 (Sapna 2, Munki, 4, 48, Sagorika 37, 53, 58, Shikha 50, Rupa 85, Shanti 90+4) Sri Lanka 1 (Layansika 90+2)