Rajshahi Stars Exit AFC Women's Champions League After Sabah Defeat

Rajshahi Stars have been eliminated from the AFC Women's Champions League following a hard-fought 2-1 defeat against Malaysia's Sabah FC at the Likas Stadium. The crucial loss means that the team's mathematical chances of progressing to the second round of the prestigious continental competition are now entirely over.

During the encounter, the Malaysian hosts established a firm grip on the match as the game progressed. In the first half, Sabah FC broke the deadlock when forward Angie Hekima found the back of the net to give her side a valuable lead heading toward the interval.

The pressure mounted further on the visitors in the closing stages of the second half. In the 80th minute, Angie Hekima struck again for Sabah FC, scoring her second goal of the match and extending her team's advantage to 2-0, leaving Rajshahi Stars facing a steep uphill battle.

Despite trailing by two goals, Rajshahi Stars continued to fight and managed to pull one back late in the fixture. In the 87th minute, Mosammat Sultana delivered a brilliant effort from outside the penalty box, executing a long-range shot that resulted in the team's sole goal of the match.

This latest setback compounds a difficult campaign for Rajshahi Stars in the tournament. In their opening match of the competition, the side had previously suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat against East Bengal.

Looking ahead to the remainder of their fixture schedule, Rajshahi Stars will now prepare to play their third and final match of the tournament. The team is scheduled to face Rovers FC on the 23rd of August to conclude their international campaign.