Bangladesh thrash Bahrain 7–0 in AFC Qualifier opener

Bangladesh made a dream start to their AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifying campaign, thrashing Bahrain 7–0 in a dominant display at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon on Sunday.

Despite Bahrain being 36 places ahead in the FIFA rankings and fielding physically stronger players, the Bangladesh women's team overwhelmed their opponents from the very first whistle. Led by standout performances from Rituparna Chakma, Shamsunnahar, and Tohura Khatun, the Red and Green turned the match into a goal fest.

The scoring began in the 10th minute when Shamsunnahar capitalized on a long ball from the Bangladesh half and coolly slotted it past the onrushing goalkeeper. Minutes later, Rituparna Chakma doubled the lead with a beautifully curved strike after collecting a diagonal pass from Swapna Rani.

Bahrain struggled to respond as Bangladesh maintained complete control. Monika Chakma came close in the 24th minute, her shot narrowly missing the target. Tohura Khatun found the net with a header in the 32nd minute, but it was ruled out for offside.

The third goal came in the 40th minute through Kohati Kisku, who capitalized on a goalmouth scramble. Bangladesh then added two more in stoppage time before the break—Tohura's powerful shot found the net after glancing off the goalkeeper’s gloves, and moments later, she tapped in a precise cutback from Shamsunnahar Jr., completing her brace.

With a commanding 5–0 lead at halftime, Bangladesh kept pressing in the second half. In the 59th minute, Nabiran Khatun made it six, converting a cross inside the box. The final goal came in the 74th minute, when Munki danced past two defenders and beat the goalkeeper with remarkable composure.

Bangladesh could have scored even more, but a few missed opportunities didn't dampen the emphatic victory. The win gives Bangladesh three points and the top spot in Group C, where they’ll next face hosts Myanmar on July 2. Myanmar, meanwhile, defeated Turkmenistan 8–0 in their opener.

This resounding win boosts Bangladesh’s confidence as they chase a historic first-ever qualification to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup final stage. If they continue their form in the remaining two matches, the women’s team could etch their names into the history books.