U-16 girls off to winning start

The Bangladesh Under-16 women's team yesterday got off to a winning start in Japan when they handed a 2-1 defeat to Sakai Academy in the lone practice match for the J-Green Sakai Lady's Festival, which is scheduled to get underway from tomorrow in Osaka.

Sirat Jahan Swapna, the striker whose brilliant performances saw her net five goals in the SAFF Women's Championship in India, put the girls in red and green ahead in the 24th minute before hosts Sakai Academy equalised six minutes later.

However, Bangladesh restored the lead and wrapped up the 70-minute match in spite of the chilly weather when Mishrat Jahan Mousumi struck in the 35th minute, according to a press release from Bangladesh Football Federation.

Before the start of the match, head coach Golam Rabbani Choton was apprehensive as the Thailand Under-16 team had lost to Sakai Academy 10-0 earlier in the day.

“The girls gave their utmost effort and won the match. We have learned a lot from the match,” said Choton, whose charges will start their campaign with three matches on Saturday.

The Bangladesh U-16 women's team went to Japan to take part in the J-Green Sakai Festival as part of their preparation for September's AFC U-16 Women's Championship in Thailand.