A lackluster Bangladesh national football team suffered a humiliating 0-5 defeat to Tajikistan in their first leg play-off of the Asian Cup qualification at the Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe in Tajikistan on Thursday. The home side went to the break with a clear 3-0 lead and added two more in the second half. Tajikistan took few minutes to take control of the proceedings putting an immense pressure on the visitors, whom they had defeated by identical 5-0 margin in a World Cup qualifying match last year at the same venue.
Jahongir Ergashev opened the floodgate in the 19th minute after he was fed by playmaker Nuruddin Davronov with a nice through pass in an unmarked position.
Ergashev darted into the box before firing home past advancing Bangladesh keeper Shahidul Alam Sohel.
Jahongir then doubled the lead in the 30th minute when Sharipov Umedzhon provided a low cross from right as the Tajik forward sent the ball home from a goalmouth melee.
Umarboev Parvizchon made it 3-0 just three minutes later with a neat placing shot from the edge of the box following a corner from Fathullo Fathulloev.
Ergashev Davronjon joined the goal fest for the home side four minutes into the second-half when his back header on an Umarboev Parvizjon’s long free-kick went into the net.
Sharipov Umedzhon completed the rout in the 72 minute.
Bangladesh will host Tajikistan for the second leg of the competition on June 7 in Dhaka.
The second leg has now turned into a mere formality as Bangladesh needed a miracle to overturn the result and secure the place in the qualification round for the 2019 Asian Cup in UAE.
Its, however, not all over for Bangladesh as the loser of the play-offs will face Bhutan in another play-off round for one final attempt in qualification round.
-With New Age input
