Bangladesh Under-23 national football team’s hopes of qualifying for the round of 16 in the Asian Games suffered a big blow when they were thumped 3-0 by Uzbekistan in their second Group B match in Incheon on Thursday. It may mentioned that they had lost by the same margin to the mighty Uzbeks when the two sides last met in the last edition of the Games in Guangzhou, China, four years ago.
In the other game of the group, Hong Kong managed a 2-1 win over Afghanistan, so now only a win against Hong Kong in their third and final match can take Bangladesh to the next round.
Uzbekistan, who played out a 1-1 draw with Hong Kong in their first match, were in need of a win as Bangladesh won their first game against Afghanistan 1-0. Bangladesh strengthened their defence with five players in a bid to stop the Uzbek attack.
But all went in vain, when they killed off the contest by scoring three goals within 34 minutes of the first half. And after that the Bangladesh team only chased the shadows of the big Uzbeks.
The scoreline could have been much worse if Bangladesh goalkeeper Russell Mahmud Liton had not produced some stunning saves in the second half.
Uzbekistan opened their account in the 14th minute through striker Shodiev Vokhid.
Iskanderov Jamshid’s free-kick from the left hit the far post and Shodiev was on hand to tap the ball in.
Shodiev doubled the lead just six minutes later when the forward headed home a cross from Sayfiev Farrukh from the right-flank from close range.
Rashidov Sardor netted Uzbekistan’s third goal in the 33rd minute. Iskanderov was the architect of the goal again when his free-kick found Rashidov inside the penalty area and he sent the ball past Bangladesh keeper Rasel Mahmud Liton.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh had their first shot on target in the 41st minute when Sohel Rana provided a pass to Hemanta Vincent Biswas but the midfielder’s weak effort from 25 yards failed to give any trouble to Uzbek keeper Suyunov Eldorbek.
Bangladesh put on a better defensive display in the second half.
Bangladesh coach Lodewijk de Kruif used only one substitute when winger Zahid Hossain replaced Toklis Ahmed in the 83rd minute. Bangladesh U-23 team will play Hong Kong on September 22 in their final group match.
-With New Age input
