Ranked 95 places ahead, China are not only giants in Asian women’s football but also nine-time champions and the current holders of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. It was against such a formidable opponent that Bangladesh made their debut on the Asian stage. Rituparna Chakma, Afida Khandakar and their teammates stepped onto the pitch dreaming of something magical. They even came close to scoring. Although two mistakes late in the first half proved costly, Bangladesh pushed China hard in the second half and did not concede another goal.
So, despite a 2–0 defeat, Bangladesh left the field with their heads held high. Apart from two errors, they delivered an impressive performance in both halves. In the fourth minute at Sydney’s Western Stadium, Li Jing’s volley narrowly missed the post. Two minutes later, she tried again, but Bangladesh goalkeeper Milli Akter collected it comfortably.
In the 10th minute, Bangladesh won a free-kick after Shamsunnahar Junior was fouled, but Rituparna Chakma’s effort failed to trouble the defense. Two minutes later, China’s biggest star Wang Shuang unleashed a powerful left-footed shot, which Milli saved brilliantly.
Bangladesh’s best chance came in the 14th minute. From a counterattack, Maria Manda sent a long ball from her own half to the unmarked Rituparna. Beating Chinese captain Wu Haiyan down the left flank, Rituparna advanced towards goal. With 6-foot goalkeeper Chen Chen coming off her line, Rituparna attempted a trademark long-range shot. However, the Chinese keeper produced an outstanding save, leaving Rituparna lying on the ground in frustration.
In the 20th minute, Wang Shuang shot from inside a crowded box, but Milli blocked it with her foot before gathering it safely. China thought they had taken the lead in the 24th minute through a header finished by Shuang, but after nearly five minutes of review, the referee ruled it out via VAR for offside.
China finally broke the deadlock in the 44th minute with a stunning long-range strike from Wang Shuang, giving Milli no chance. In stoppage time of the first half, Zhang Rui doubled the lead, as her rebound effort deflected off Afida Khandakar’s foot into the net.
At the start of the second half, coach Peter Butler made tactical changes, bringing on forwards Tahura Khatun and Halima Akter for midfielder Umehla Marma and defender Shiuli Azim to add attacking impetus. In the 46th minute, Bangladesh had a golden chance to pull one back, but Rituparna’s long-range shot skimmed past the post. Maria later attempted something similar, but without success.
Bangladesh’s determination was clear in the 53rd minute when defender Nabiran was replaced by midfielder Swapna Rani as they pushed for a goal. They increased the pressure on China, though breaking into the box remained difficult.
In the 68th minute, Zhang Chengyu’s bullet shot was once again denied by Milli, proving why Butler had chosen her over Rupna Chakma in goal. Swapna’s ambitious 35-yard effort in the 77th minute failed to find the target.
Bangladesh were almost caught out again in the 83rd minute, but Shao Ziqin’s shot struck the post and went out. In the 86th minute, Sweden-based Anika Raniya Siddiki replaced Shamsunnahar Junior, marking her debut for Bangladesh.
Despite China’s late efforts, they could not break Bangladesh’s defense or spirit. After the final whistle, Chinese players came to the Bangladesh dugout to salute their courageous performance. Carrying the same fighting spirit, Rituparna and her teammates will face North Korea in their second match on March 6.