AFC Women's Champions League - Bam Khatoon advance in style

AFC Women's Champions League
Group D: Bam Khatoon advance in style
Sat, 31 August, 2024

Thimphu: Islamic Republic of Iran’s Bam Khatoon FC booked their place in the group stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League™ 2024/25 after defeating Kitchee SC of Hong Kong, China 2-0 in their Preliminary Stage Group D tie at the Changlimithang National Stadium on Saturday.

Bam Khatoon finished with a perfect record, having beaten Bhutan’s Royal Thimphu College FC 2-1 on Matchday One and will join Australia’s Melbourne City, Kaya–Iloilo of the Philippines and Thailand’s College of Asian Scholars in Group B of the inaugural edition of the tournament.

Bam Khatoon had their first look on goal in the third minute with Danielle Voss forcing Sara Didar’s headed attempt from inside the box just wide, before Zahra Ghanbari capitalised on a stray pass a minute later only to finish with a tame grounded effort.

Kitchee were let off the hook shortly after again when Mona Hamoudi steered Sarshin Kamangar’s cross off a set-piece situation into the back of the net, only for her goal to be ruled out for offside.

Kitchee could barely make it out of their own half but did come close to carving up a chance in the 12th minute when Maggie Chu gained possession in the centre, evaded her markers but her lobbed effort from above the box was easily dealt with by Bam Khatoon keeper Arefeh Kazemi.

The Iran side continued to press with Fatemeh Geraeli forcing Kitchee keeper Logan WN Leung to tip away her effort from distance in the 18th minute while Kamangar could not find the target after angling her headed attempt off a corner wide four minutes later.

Despite being limited to counter-attacks, Kitchee gave the Iranian side a scare in the 27th minute after a good buildup on the right flank saw Chu unmarked inside the box but the defender’s effort to convert Fu Chiu Man’s cutback was eventually foiled.

Bam Khatoon finally broke the deadlock in the closing stages of the half when Fatemeh Amineh’s delivery off a set-piece from distance took a bounce inside the six-yard-box before looping over Kitchee keeper Logan WN Leung and settling in the back of the net.

Kitchee struggled to contain Bam Khatoon in the second half and fell further behind in the 64th minute after a poor clearance from Vos presented Mona Hamoudi with the perfect opportunity to score with the defender firing a low drive into the bottom corner of the net.

Bam Kharoon should have added a third but Amineh mistimed her header off a corner in the 91st minute but it didn't matter as the Iranian side took the points and their place in the group stage.

Group D: Bam Khatoon advance in style

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