Bangladesh under-19 team’s dream of playing in the AFC U-19 tournament got a shattering as they were held by Bhutan with 1-1 in their second match of the AFC Under-19 Championship qualifying round at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Sunday. Bhutan took the lead with just six minutes into the clock through forward Sonam Tobgay before Bangladesh skipper Masuk Miah Jony leveled the parity in the 77th minute.
In the day’s first match Uzbekistan claimed second consecutive win against Sri Lanka by 3-0 margin.
Bangladesh keeper Anisur Rahman cleared a Nima Wngdi corner in the six minute but Sonam was in the six-yard box to put the ball in home to put his side ahead.
Bangladesh seemed disorganised in the first half and failed to make any notable opportunity in this part.
Midfielder Rohit Sarkar seemed to be clueless but coach Saiful Bari Titu took him off the field just in the dying moments of the match.
The hosts could produce just one notable attack throughout the first half but Mannaf Rabby’s weak shot was easily cleared off the line by Bhutan Keeper Choki Wangchuk at 19th minute,
However, Titu brought Sarower Zaman Nipu in the place of Saad Uddin at the half-hour mark that gave the hosts some oxygen to reorganise their game.
After the resumption Bangladesh boosted their attack and put immense pressure on Bhutan defence.
Bangladesh finally returned to the game in the 77th minute when their captain Joni headed on the Ibrahim’s precise cross from the left flank to equalise for the hosts.
With the result Bangladesh now have a thin chance to qualify for the next year’s final round subject they beat strong Uzbekistan side in the last match or at least attain a draw.
Bangladesh coach Titu admitted his charges failed to execute what they learnt in the training session.
‘I admit my failure,’ said a gloomy Titu adding that, ‘maybe I failed to teach them how to play against pressing football.’
‘I think this is the right time to think about our football in a different way.’
Meanwhile, in the first match, Uzbekistan scored their all three goals in the first half of the game.
Tukhtasinov Nurillo, Doston Ibragimov and Kodirkulov Sanjar scored them in eighth, 20th and 33rd minute respectively.
Bangladesh won their first match against Sri Lanka 2-0 and Uzbekistan battered Bhutan 7-0.
-With New Age input
