A stunning hat-trick from Sree Moti Trishna Rani inspired Bangladesh Under-20 women’s national football team to a commanding 8-0 victory over Timor-Leste in their second group-stage match of the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers at the New Laos National Stadium in Vientiane on Friday.
Fresh from their opening 3-1 win over hosts Laos, coach Peter Butler fielded an unchanged starting XI against a Timor-Leste side that had suffered a 9-0 defeat to Korea Republic. The young Tigresses wasted no time asserting dominance, launching waves of attacks from the outset.
Bangladesh opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Sinha Jahan Sikha headed home a corner from Sapna Rani. Twelve minutes later, Shanti Mardi lit up the match with a spectacular “Olympic goal” — her right-flank corner curling directly into the net past a misjudging goalkeeper.
Shanti then turned provider in the 35th minute, delivering another pinpoint corner that Nabiran Khatun nodded in. In first-half stoppage time, a flowing team move saw Trishna open her account with a composed finish, sending Bangladesh into the break with a 4-0 lead.
The second half brought no respite for Timor-Leste. Trishna struck again early in the second half, capitalising on a move involving Joynob Bibi Rita and Sikha. Mst Sagorika added the sixth in the 72nd minute, dribbling past the goalkeeper before slotting into an empty net. 10 minutes later, Sagorika set up Trishna for her third, completing a well-deserved hat-trick.
Midfielder Munki Akhter put the final flourish on the scoreline deep into stoppage time, sealing an emphatic win for Bangladesh.
The result leaves Bangladesh in strong contention for a place in the 2026 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup. They face group leaders Korea Republic in their final match on Sunday, with a group winners’ spot or one of the three best runners-up places securing qualification.
