Bangladesh women conclude maiden Asian Cup campaign with Uzbekistan loss

Bangladesh concluded their maiden campaign at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 with an all-defeat record after suffering a 4-0 loss to the Uzbekistan in their final Group B match at the Perth Rectangular Stadium on Monday.

After consecutive defeats to nine-time champions China PR and three-time winners DPR Korea, Bangladesh entered the match hoping to secure a historic first win in their debut appearance in the 12-team competition. Victory over Uzbekistan would have significantly improved the women in red and green’s chances of reaching the quarterfinals, which could also have opened pathways towards qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Olympic qualifiers.

Instead, Bangladesh will return home with the consolation of valuable experience gained against stronger and more established continental opponents.

Uzbekistan -- themselves desperate to end a run of five straight defeats in the tournament -- started aggressively and applied sustained pressure on Bangladesh, who struggled to contain their opponents while maintaining a high defensive line.

Bangladesh suffered an early setback when Diyorakhon Khabibullaeva scored from a swift counterattack in the 10th minute to give Uzbekistan the lead -- a goal that even China PR and DPR Korea had not managed to score as early against Bangladesh in the competition.

Uzbekistan nearly doubled their advantage in the 23rd minute when Khabibullaeva broke through again, but Maria Manda produced an excellent recovery tackle from behind to deny the forward with goalkeeper Mile Akter already beaten.

Peter Butler's charges responded with a late surge before the interval, creating a couple of promising chances. However, Uzbekistan goalkeeper Maftuna Jonimoulova made a brilliant save off a Ritu Porna Chakma's long-range effort, while a last-ditch defensive intervention denied Kohati Kisku after she threatened inside the box.

After the restart, Bangladesh continued to push for an equaliser, but Uzbekistan capitalised on the spaces left behind.

Substitute Dildora Nozmova struck twice in quick succession from close range in the 62nd and 66th minutes to extend the lead before Nilufar Kudratova sealed the result with a left-footed finish in the 88th minute.