Bangladesh came from three goals down to beat India sensationally by 4-3 goals in the SAFF Under-18 Championship football in Thimpu, Bhutan on Monday.
The boys in green and red went 3-0 behind in the first–half of the game before Jafar Iqbal struck a brace and Mahbubur Rahman and Rahamat Mia scored one goal each to complete the stunning comeback.
‘In my playing career I have never seen a Bangladeshi team coming back to a game from behind after conceding two goals,’ Bangladesh Under-18 coach Mahbub Hossain Roxy told reporters after the game.
‘In one word was just brilliant job done by my players. In the second half, we were able to execute the game strategy we originally set out. We perfectly carried out a high pressing game and our set piece plan worked out accurately in the game.’
The success came at a time when the football in this country is suffering lots of troubles and trembles with the national team slipping to 196 in FIFA rankings.
India took the lead in the 19th minute when a long ball from the defense reached Lalawampuia who sent it to home from inside the box.
Bangladesh suffered a huge blow when skipper Tutul Hossain Badshah awarded India a penalty in the 32nd minute and Edmund Lalrindika doubled the lead with a sweet placing shot.
In the ending minutes of the first half Bangladesh could reduce the margin when Mohammad Al Amin’s chip that had rebounded off the crossbar was lofted over the bar by centre forward Mohammad Shadhin.
Later in the added minutes, a long-range screamer from Rebello Princeton Arnald found the back of the net to make it 3-0 for India.
After conceding three goals in the first half, Roxy’s charges attempted a comeback in the 53rd minute but Shohanur Rahman’s shot missed the goal bar.
Bangladesh came back in the match when the header of Jafar found the net in the 55th minute after a curling corner from Biplo Ahmed found him perfectly.
Bangladesh were awarded an indirect free-kick in the 60th minute from the top of the six-yard box when Indian skipper Panwar Shil attempted a clear but mistakenly back-passed it to the goalkeeper.
Rahamat Mia placed it on the net with a powerful shot and made it 3-2.
Bangladesh stunned the Indian spectators when number nine Mahbubn headed the ball to the net and leveled the things in the 74th minute.
Jafar sealed the victory for Bangladesh in the 91st minute once his clinical header from a sublime corner found back of the net.
-With New Age input
