Bangladesh finished their Asian Games football campaign with consecutive three defeats after a 4-1 drubbing by Hong Kong at the Haudu Stadium in Guanzhou on Thursday.
Bangladesh, who failed to earn any point, were placed fourth in the four-team group while Hong Kong finished second with seven points and moved into the second round for the first time in 52 years.
UAE outplayed Uzbekistan 3-0 in the day’s other match to finish at the top on goal difference after both the teams were level on seven points. Uzbekistan were placed third courtesy of their lone win against Bangladesh.
Bangladesh inserted Mishu in place of injured Imtiaz Sultan Jitu and that was the only change in the starting eleven. With no option other than a win in the match, Bangladesh tried to adopt an attacking approach but conceded their biggest defeat in the group fixtures. Bangladesh lost both their previous matches by 3-0 margins. However, scoring their first goal in the tournament was the lone consolation.
Hong Kong took the lead in the very second minute when skipper Wai Ho slipped a long pass between two defenders in the box and young striker Yiu Chung sent the ball into the near post with a blistering shot.
Bangladesh forward Enamul Haque restored parity in the 24th minute from a Mamunul Islam free-kick.
Wali Faisal’s blunder in the 33rd minute enabled Hong Kong to take the lead again. Yiu Chung snatched the ball from the defender and rounded an onrushing Aminul before placing the ball into the empty net.
Four minutes before the half time Jai Ying Ju sealed the fate of the match after his curling shot from 30 yards beat Aminul in the air. Just a few minutes later Bangladesh midfielder Mamunul Islam’s free-kick from 25 yards rattled the Hong Kong crosspiece.
A frustrated Bangladesh conceded the fourth goal, and the 10th in their three games, three minutes from the regulation time with Fai Chan Man scoring from the edge of the box.
Bangladesh coach Robert Rubcic praised Hong Kong at the post match press briefing. ‘They played better than our expectation. They were quick and they ran a lot,’ he said.
‘My boys were playing well and they were more aggressive than the previous matches. We lost because of our defensive errors, which is a result of fatigue after their exertions in the Federation Cup,’ said the Croatian.
