Bangladesh Under-23 national football team’s Asian Games journey ended with a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Hong Kong in their final Group B match at the Hwaseong Sports Complex Main Stadium in Incheon, South Korea, on Monday. The defeat ensured Bangladesh’s elimination from the group stage after they could manage just three points from their three group matches. Bangladesh, who beat Afghanistan 1-0 in the first match and lost to Uzbekistan 0-3 in the second, needed an outright victory over Hong Kong to progress to the round of 16.
The charges of Dutch coach Lodewijk De Kruif kept their hopes alive until the first half when the two teams were locked at 0-0.
However, Bangladesh conceded two goals within 30 minutes of the second half before substitute striker Aminur Rahmnan Shajib pulled a goal back.
Bangladesh had their chance to score in the first half when Zahid Hossain forced Kong keeper Yapp Hung Fai into a decent save with an angular shot from the edge of the box in the 35th minute.
Sohel Rana made a goal-line clearance five minutes later to keep the scoreline goalless at the break.
After an impressive first half, Bangladesh finally saw their resistance broken by Hong Kong with Annan Christian Kwesi putting his side ahead in the 53rd minute and LAM Hok Hei doubling the margin 20 minutes later.
Substitute forward Aminur Rahman Sajib pulled one back for Bangladesh in the 77th minute just four minutes after he came on for Wahed Ahmed.
‘I’m very disappointed with the result,’ said De Kruif, said after the match.
‘We played well in the full 90 minutes. We were organised. We tried to get a goal, and that is what we did with attacking football.’
Bangladesh conceded both the goals from set-pieces and De Kruif admitted that due to attacking mood his players sometimes they lost their concentration.
‘With two corner kicks, Hong Kong scored twice. I’m sorry for my boys; if you play hard you deserve a reward, but they didn’t go for it,’ said a disappointed de Kruif.
The Bangladesh coach, however, was satisfied with the overall performances and mentioned that this result will help us work in future.
‘We had one win. Uzbekistan was too far away. I hope the people in Bangladesh can be proud of the performance.’
Hong Kong, on the other hand, advanced to the round of 16 with Uzbekistan, who beat Afghanistan 5-0 on the same day to ensure their quarter-final spot as Group B champions.
-With New Age input
