Scoring the winning goal in the dying moments against Nepal, Trishna Rani couldn’t hide her joy. The forward was delighted to help Bangladesh clinch a crucial victory.
The match was heading for a draw when, under immense pressure, Umhela Marma sent in a low cross. Trishna met it with a perfect touch, guiding the ball into the net. The dramatic winner not only sank Nepal but also strengthened Bangladesh’s hopes of defending their title in the SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship. After lifting the team in the final moments, Trishna reflected on the tough second half.
At the Bashundhara Kings Arena on Sunday, Bangladesh edged Nepal 3-2 in their second round-robin match. With two straight wins, Peter James Butler’s side now sit at the top of the table with six points.
Bangladesh took a 2-0 lead into halftime with goals from Shikha Jahan and Sagarika. But after Sagarika received a red card in the second half, the team lost rhythm and Nepal came charging back, scoring twice to level the match. It was then that Trishna stepped up and turned the game back in Bangladesh’s favor.
“Actually, everyone is happy. But I’m especially happy because I could score in the final moments and help the team win,” Trishna said.
“We scored two goals in the first half, but then conceded two in the second. One of our strikers (Sagarika) got a red card, so mentally we were under pressure to maintain our attacking momentum.”
She continued, “After conceding two goals, we were under a bit of mental pressure. But when I scored the last-minute goal, it felt really good. I’m happy I could do something for the team.”
Trishna came on as a substitute shortly after Sagarika’s red card. Though she initially missed a couple of chances, she more than made up for it with the decisive goal.
“At first, I missed two or three chances. My goal was to score. Since we had already conceded twice, we really needed a goal. It came late, but I’m very happy it happened.”
That late strike not only sealed the win but also erased the earlier frustration for Trishna — and reignited Bangladesh’s title defense in style.
