Bangladesh down Bhutan to stay in contention
SAFF Under-18 football
Sports Reporter
Two late strikes from substitute Jafar Iqbal steered Bangladesh national Under-18 football team to blank the hosts Bhutan by 2-0 yesterday to go very closer to win the title of ongoing SAFF Under-18 Championship.
Held at the Changlimithang Satdium, Bhutan, Bangladesh grabbed the deserving victory when they demonstrated almost one-sided game in the full 90 minutes time and opened the scoring spaces for more than half a dozen times.
However, despite winning the match they will have wait for the result of the second match of the day between India and Nepal match, if India will win or draw, then Bangladesh will win the title.
Bangladesh team began the match with positive approach when they were in attacking approach right from the kick off and playing with good disciplined football.
Bangladesh created the real chance on 24th minute from which they could have taken lead but Mahbubur Rahman Shawdhins header went over the post despite he has the open net in front of him.
Bhutan responded strongly on 32nd minute when Bangladesh goalkeeper Mahfuz Hassan Pritom did a mistake but Bhutanese forward failed to connect the ball.
After the opening 45 minute goalless, Bangladesh again drew the first blood and produced another good scoring chance but the forward could not deal with the pace as the Bhutanese goalkeeper Karma Sonam came forward to take the ball possession.
The missing trial was going on of Bangladesh players when Bangladesh forwards displayed very poor performance just inside the penalty area when they could not utilise any off three close chances inside 10 minutes when on 63rd minutes Munna failed to mark the target from a combined had the ball inside the area.
Bangladeshs youngsters finally broke the goal draught of the match through Jafar Iqbal who fielded as a substitute scored a beautiful goal on 80th minute.
It was a superb sprint from Bipul Ahmed with the ball from their own half and finally released it for onrushing Jafar Iqbal on the left, who sharply entered into the box after receiving the ball and blasted his low shot into the far post giving no chance to goalkeeper Karma Sonam, who turned into a wall to deny series of Bangladesh strong efforts (1-0).
Bangladesh, doubled their lead four minutes later. Jafar Iqbal, the fresh blood who replaced Shawdhin, justified his coachs belief when the striker proved his real capability with scoring a spectacular goal from a zero angle finishing a right side move on 84th (2-0).
