Bhutan claimed an impressive 3-2 victory over Singapore in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Group A qualifiers, marking their first win in the tournament. Despite being ranked 32 spots below Singapore in the FIFA rankings, Bhutan showcased strong determination and skill on the field. Singapore is ranked 139th, while Bhutan stands at 171st in FIFA rankings, making this win a significant achievement for the Bhutanese team.
The match kicked off with Bhutan taking an early lead in the first minute when Yeshey Bidha capitalized on a defensive error by Singapore. However, Singapore quickly leveled the score in the 9th minute through a rebound goal by Ardhra Arul Ganeswaran. In the 26th minute, Singapore took the lead 2-1 following a mistake by Bhutan’s goalkeeper Sangita Mangar. After a backpass from Dorji Adon, Sangita was unable to control the ball, which rolled directly into the goal.
Bhutan came back stronger in the second half. In the 67th minute, Dorji Adon scored with a powerful header to equalize the match once again. The decisive moment came in the 87th minute when Deki Lhazom’s fierce shot hit the crossbar and bounced back. Sunita Rai reacted quickly to score the winning goal, sealing a memorable victory for Bhutan.
This win has given Bhutan a morale boost as they prepare to face Lebanon this Thursday. Meanwhile, Singapore will take on Iran in their next Group A match.
