A suicidal goal by defender Hasan Murad forced the Bangladesh men's football team to start their 19th Asian Games Men's Football campaign with a 0-1 goal defeat against neighboring Myanmar in Group A opener at the Xiaoshan Sports Center Stadium in the Chinese city of Hangzhou Tuesday afternoon, reports UNB.
Although the Hangzhou Asian Games will officially be inaugurated on September 23, the men's football competition started on Tuesday, three days ahead of the meet's opening ceremony.
Bangladesh defender Hasan Murad Tipu scored a suicidal goal in the 68th minute by heading the ball to his own net while he was trying to foil a left-wing attempt by Myanmar (1-0).
Two Bangladesh attempts were denied by the woodwork while two other attempts were brilliantly tackled by the Myanmar custodian in the match.
Myanmar were restricted to 10-man in the 76th minute as their defender Zwe Khant Min got a marching order after receiving the 2nd yellow card for making a foul, but Bangladesh failed to take its fruit.
The FIFA ranked 189th Bangladesh, which was earlier placed in strong Group A with FIFA ranked 80th China, 99th India, and 160th Myanmar, will face India on September 21 and host China on September 24 in the remaining group matches.
Earlier, Bangladesh played 27 matches in the Asian Games Football since their first inception in 1978 and won only four matches, one each against Malaysia, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Qatar.
Bangladesh is competing in 17 disciplines of sports—athletics, archery, boxing, cricket, chess, football, kabaddi, hockey, shooting, swimming, weightlifting, karate, gymnastics, fencing, bridge, golf, and taekwondo—in the Hangzhou 19th Asian Games scheduled for September 23 to October 8.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
