Bangladesh beat the Maldives by 2-1 goals in their second and final match at the crowded Bashundhara Kings Arena of the Bashundhara Sports Complex today (Nov 16) and levelled the two Bashundhara Group FIFA Tier-1 International friendlies 1-1.
The Maldives took an early lead in the 23rd minute when midfielder Ali Fasir capitalized on a quick pass from an unmarked Ibrahim Mahudhee Hussain, who intercepted a misplaced cross by Bangladesh’s veteran defender Topu Barman near the box.
Despite dominating the game from the start and putting constant pressure on the Maldives after conceding the goal, Bangladesh struggled to break through the resilient Maldivian defense and missed several opportunities to level the score.
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.
BDST: 2044 HRS, NOV 16, 2024
MN/SMS
