Bangladesh held hosts Tajikistan to a goalless draw in their opening match of the AFC Under-19 Championship Qualifier at the Hisor Central Stadium in Tajikistan on Tuesday.
The other match of the Group B between Maldives and Sri Lanka ended in a 2-2 draw at the same venue. Uzbekistan is the other team of the group.The hosts dominated the game throughout but failed to score, thanks to Bangladesh’s compact defending, which offered very little room for the Tajiks. Bangladesh goalkeeper Mahfuz Ahmed Pritom produced some good saves to keep it goalless.
Tajikistan striker Boboev Sheriddin’s placing shot following a tricky free-kick of Ehsoni Panshanbe was cleared from the goal-line by winger Rahmat Miah in the 72nd minute.
Panshanbe took a curving free-kick four minutes later but Pritom dived to his right to save the attempt. Bangladesh will face the Maldives in their second match at the Republican Central Stadium in Dushanbe on Thursday.
-With New Age input
