The final whistle blew, and scenes of jubilation followed Bangladesh’s women’s football team had just made history. With a stunning 2-1 victory over hosts Myanmar, the Bangladeshi players and coaching staff erupted in celebration. This crucial win puts them on the brink of qualifying for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 in Australia, marking what could be their first appearance on Asia’s biggest football stage.
Bangladesh now sits at the top of Group ‘C’ in the qualifiers, having won both of their opening matches. The group winners from each of the eight groups will secure a place in the final tournament. Their final group game is against Turkmenistan, considered the weakest team in the group, making a win highly likely. However, even if Bangladesh loses that match, they are still in a strong position to qualify thanks to their head-to-head win over Myanmar.
If Myanmar beats Bahrain, both Myanmar and Bangladesh will end with 6 points, but BD will top the group due to their head-to-head win. Alternatively, if today’s match between Bahrain and Turkmenistan ends in a draw or a Bahrain win, Bangladesh’s qualification will be officially confirmed regardless of their final result.
Ranked 128th in the FIFA rankings, Bangladesh was up against 55th-ranked Myanmar a gap of 73 places. But numbers didn’t matter. Bangladesh played fearless football and shocked the home side. Rituparna Chakma, with two stunning goals, was the hero of the night.
In the 18th minute, Bangladesh earned a free-kick just outside the box, won by a blazing run from Shamsunnahar, who was fouled just before entering the area. Rituparna’s initial free-kick was blocked by the wall, but she pounced on the rebound and launched a powerful shot that beat everyone, including the goalkeeper.
Myanmar responded with heavy pressure and even found the net once, only for the goal to be disallowed. They also struck the crossbar and missed a golden opportunity on the rebound. BD had moments of luck and grit, including brave saves and crucial interceptions.
Myanmar came out aggressively in the second half, but stood firm. Then, in the 70th minute, Rituparna Chakma delivered again this time with a brilliant strike from the edge of the box to make it 2–0, stunning the crowd at the Yangon stadium.
Myanmar scored a late goal in stoppage time and pushed hard for an equalizer, but Bangladesh’s defense remained composed, sealing a memorable 2–1 victory.
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FAQ
1. What was the significance of Bangladesh’s win over Myanmar?
This victory puts BD on the brink of qualifying for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 in Australia.
2. Who were the goal scorers for Bangladesh in the match against Myanmar?
Rituparna Chakma scored both goals in the 2-1 victory, showcasing exceptional individual brilliance and helping secure a crucial win.
3. What are Bangladesh’s chances of qualifying for the main tournament now?
With two wins in two matches, BD lead Group C. A win or even a narrow loss against Turkmenistan in the next match should be enough for them to top the group and qualify for the main round of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.