Bangladesh through to final round

Bangladesh moved into the final round of the AFC Challenge Cup 2010 after finishing runners-up in Group A with a facile 3-0 win over Macau at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Thursday. Midfielder Zahid’s brace helped Bangladesh finish as the best runners-up and qualify for the final round.
Bangladesh made a lively start against their opponents, who are ranked 195, 17 places below than the hosts, but the same flaws of the first match were visible again. Bangladesh attackers saw their efforts go in vain for a lack fall of finishing. The absence of another attacker in the opponent box to assist Enamul was felt painfully.
Bangladesh wasted the first chance in the 20th minute when Rajani’s header from a Wali Faisal free-kick missed the sidebar by a few inches. In the very next minute left-back Mishu let the team down by shooting wide from the six-yard box.
Midfielder Emon Mahmud increased the heartbeat of Bangladesh tent when his rasping right-footer crashed against the crossbar in the 29th minute.
The only good sign was that Bangladesh were initiating attacks one after one and looked poised to get a goal. The moment arrived on 37 minutes when midfielder Mamunul broke the deadlock courtesy off a fumble by goalkeeper Tam Heng Wa. Enamul headed a Jahid cross from the right flank into the box and Tam failed the grip the ball, unmarked Mamun slammed home from a hand-shaking distance.
The goal changed the scenario and Bangladesh were in a marauding mood in the second half. Zahid tested Tam in the very first minute of the second half with his 35-yarder which the Macau keeper saved for a corner.
Zahid appeared to be unstoppable as he sneaked throughout the Macau defence in the 62nd minute but saw his delicate chip beat Tam Heng but come back off the side post.
Zahid scored the second goal from 35 yards out in the 68th minute. After running a couple of yards the attacking midfielder suddenly unleashed a cracker that crashed into the top corner of the far post.
Three minutes later he beat Tam Heng at the keeper’s far post with a low shot from the edge of the box after Enamul had set him free with a flick.
Zahid missed a sure sitter in the 84th minute when Emily sent a neat cross to him but his shot went out denying him of a treble.
Macau failed to bother Bangladesh throughout the ninety minutes and remained confined in their own half.
Bangladesh assistant coach Manik, however, sees hard work ahead. ‘We have to raise our game as the standard of the final round will be far higher, we have done what we wanted to do in the first match against Cambodia, the performances in the other two games were not satisfactory,’ said Manik who faced the press as Dido had a bad headache.
Points Table
Myanmar 3-3-0-0-7-1-9
Bangladesh 3-2-0-1-5-2-6
Cambodia 3-1-0-2-2-3-3
Macau 3-0-0-3-1-9-0
(Matches played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points)

Courtesy of NewAgebd