AFC Women's Champions League
Sabah will play India’s East Bengal, who strolled 12-0 past Guam’s Rovers FC in the earlier match, on Sunday for top spot in Group A, with Rajshahi Stars hoping to get points on the board when they meet Rovers.
Rajshahi Stars started on a promising note, almost breaking through in the eighth minute when Shamsunnahar threaded a brilliant pass to Tohura Khatun whose charge into the box was, however, halted by the onrushing Sabah goalkeeper Asma Junaidi.
Sabah survived another scare three minutes later when Junaidi spilled a routine catch inside a packed box, but Rosdianah Adeline reacted quickly to clear the danger.
Rajshahi Stars thought they had taken the lead just after the half-hour mark when Shamsunnahar sent a deep ball into the box for Tohura, who controlled it before firing past Junaidi, only for the effort to be ruled out for handball.
Sabah began to threaten in the closing minutes of the half, with Enzi Hekima Starks backheeling into the path of Mai-Lisa Atis in the 40th minute, only for her effort to be blocked by the Rajshahi defence.
Starks then dragged an effort wide after turning just outside the box a minute later before making no mistake in the 42nd minute.
Misaki Nakayama initiated the move with a surging run past three players before threading a neat pass through to Starks, who calmly slotted into the bottom corner to give Sabah the lead.
An Sebin tried to catch Rajshahi goalkeeper Rupna Chakma off her line just before the hour mark with a long-range effort but could not keep her shot from rising over the bar.
PS - Group A: Rajshahi Stars FC (BAN) v Sabah FA (MAS)
Item 1 of 8
The Bangladesh side almost responded in the 62nd minute when Bimala B K sent a long ball forward to Shamsunnahar, who managed to squeeze her effort past the onrushing Junaidi, only to see the ball flash narrowly wide of the right post.
Rajshahi, however, were left undone when Henrietta Justine played a neat ball into the box to Starks, who waltzed past her marker before slotting past a hapless Chakma to give Sabah a two-goal cushion with 10 minutes left to play.
Sabah, however, were left stunned in the 87th minute when Mosammat Sultana struck an audacious long-range effort from the edge of the box, with the ball arching over Junaidi before settling into the back of the net.
Rajshahi went in search of an equaliser but their efforts proved to be futile as Sabah stayed firm to hold on for the victory.
Related News
- AFC Women's Champions League
PS - Group B: Phnom Penh Crown FC (CAM) 1-5 Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI)
- AFC Women's Champions League
PS - Group F: No Limits FC (LBN) 0-8 Ayeyawady FC - Women (MYA)
- AFC Women's Champions League
PS - Group D: S’Amuser FC (TLS) 0-12 4.25 SC (PRK)
- AFC Women's Champions League
PS - Group A: Rovers FC (GUM) 0-12 East Bengal FC (IND)
- AFC Challenge League
#ChallengeLeague: Road to glory paved
Item 1 of 5