Bangladesh were determined to make a ‘strong comeback’ against Maldives in their second match of two Bashundhara Group FIFA Tier-1 International friendlies at the crowded Bashundhara Kings Arena of the Bashundhara Sports Complex on Saturday.
Midfielder Ali Fasir took a lead for the touring side in the 23rd minute, off a quick pass from another midfielder Ibrahim Mahudhee Hussain, who was unmarked nearer to the box and won the ball from a wrong cross of Bangladesh’s veteran defender Topu Barman.
Bangladesh, who tried to dominate the pitch from the first minute of the game and then put full pressure on Maldives after conceding the goal, created several chances to equalise the margin, but failed to break Maldives’ hard defence line.
Maldives goalkeeper Hussain Shareef and midfielder Mohamed Irufaan repeated the same performance of the first match on this day and denied all efforts by Bangladesh’s star-studded attacking unit inside their box.
However, Bangladesh could have won the equaliser in the 40th minute of the match, but Maldives goalkeeper jumped acrobatically to save a shot from forward Foysal Ahmed Fahim from the danger zone.
But within three minutes, midfielder Mojibor Rahman Jony finally beat goalie Shareef and scored the equaliser with a right-footer to the right top of the bar from the edge of the box, off a cross from forward Shekh Morsalin.
Bangladesh could have scored another goal eight minutes before the stipulated 90-minute, but substitute forward Pias Ahmmed Nova, who came in the place of Morsalin to make his debut for the national side, wasted a clean opportunity inside the box.
But another substitute midfielder Papon Singh made no mistake to score the match winner converting a cross from another substitute forward Sahariar Emon in the 90+2nd minute.
Earlier, both sides made one change each. Bangladesh included came in the place of midfielder Syed Shah Quazem while midfielder Ahmed Rizuvan came in the place of midfielder Hamza Mohamed Kirmanee in their respective playing eleven.
bd-pratidin/GR
