Palestine lift Bangabandhu Gold Cup
10-man Tajikistan go
down in tie-breaker
Sports Reporter
Palestine clinched the fifth Bangabandhu Gold Cup International Football tournament title defeating Tajikistan by 4-3 in penalty shoot-out in the nerve shattering final yesterday. Held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in the capital, the breathtaking final was ended in a goalless draw and in the 30 minutes extra period none of the finalists, Palestine or Tajikistan, could score goal as the championship was decided in tie breaker and Palestine won by 4-3.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina distributed prizes in the final as the chief guest. The exciting final began with a slow mood but Tajikistan looked a bit offensive and took back to back good chances inside 10 minutes when from a right side move captain Fatkhulloev Fatkhullo and Tursinuovs low shot hit the defenders.
But Tajikistan saw huge setback just after the half an hour of the match when they were reduced into ten men after their captain Fatkhulloev Fatkhullo saw red card.
Bangladesh referee Mizanur Rahman gave him the marching order when the Tajikistan playmaker pushed Palestine midfielder Sameh Maraaba for a bad tackle on 33rd
minute.
In one sense, it was an eventful as well as inspiring and convincing battle when the initial stage Tajikistan looked to take the command but Palestine cropped up on attacks and went closer to take
lead.
On 26th minute it was a solo effort of Khaled Salem ran faster than his markers and finally took attempt but his shattered by the side-post and three minutes later Islam Batrans 30yards strong right footer was fist for corner by the goalkeeper.
Tajikistan, who were fighting almost evenly, being reduced into 10 men after losing their captain looked a bit demoralized but it was only for the rest of 15 minutes of the first half.
After the goalless first half, Tajikistan got back their morale high and played with better possessions full 45minutes in the second half and also created scoring chances and despite playing with 10 men, it never looked like Tajikistan were a man short.
Specially, Tajiks were very inventive in the final third of Tajikistan with Mohammed Rahimov made huge threat when their sharp and quick moves with passing football just outshined full 11 men team Palestine.
They were also up against a sound defensive unit along with a relatively electrifying attacking
approach.
Palestine could make a real threat just in the last minute of the stipulated 90 minutes time but a Pavlos Bravos low shot from the box narrowly missed side post.
Despite playing with do or die attitude none of finalists could break the deadlock in the 90 minutes time and the match headed to 30 minutes extra time but this time also it was ended in goalless.
In the tie-breaker affairs Palestine had the last laugh when they converted four shots and Tajikistan managed three out of five and Palestine scored four and they did not need to take the last kick.
The Fair Play trophy of the tournament went to Bangladesh.
