Bangladesh hammer 10 past Philippines

Bangladesh got off to sparkling start in AFC U-16 Women’s Championship Qualifiers-2 after demolishing their Philippines counterparts 10-0 in the Group B encounter at Mandalar Thiri Stadium in Myanmar today.

Bangladesh raced to a comfortable 6-0 lead in a dominant first-half display, thanks to a hat-trick from diminutive striker Sara Ban Tahura while Shamsunnahar Sr and Shamsunnahar Jr also wrote their names on the scoresheet.

The girls added four more goals in the second half. The win will give them the boost they need before taking on hosts Myanmar in the second match on March 1.

The four-team group, which also features China -- the strongest team on paper -- and hosts Myanmar, will see two teams progress to the final round. The girls in red and green, who emerged champions at home in the first round of the qualifiers having scored 27 goals and conceded none, had never faced Philippines at any level in women's football.