Heartbreaking defeat for U-19s

A stoppage time own goal condemned Bangladesh to a 1-0 defeat against group favourites Uzbekistan, all but extinguishing their chances of qualifying for the AFC U-19 Championship final round, at the Hisor Central Stadium in Dushanbe, Tajikistan yesterday.

Needing a draw against the top team in Group B, Bangladesh fought a spirited battle in regulation time before Mohammad Atiquzzaman put the ball into his own net while trying to clear a cross with only 30 seconds of the four minutes added time remaining.

The first defeat in three matches left Bangladesh in third position with four points while Uzbekistan were on top with nine points, followed by Tajikistan in second with seven points.

According to head coach Mahbub Hossain Roxy, the Bangladesh players executed his game plan brilliantly until Atiquzzaman, who started the match in place of suspended defender Rafi, scored the own goal after an Uzbekistan winger had snatched the ball away from right-back Bishwanath Ghosh and whipped in a cross, which Atiquzzaman tried to clear.

“Luck did not favour us,” Roxy said while talking to this reporter on phone.

“Uzbekistan won the match like we won against Maldives, but this time we struck our own net,” Roxy said. “It was actually not Atiquzzaman's mistake, rather the cross was brilliant which would have been turned in by Uzbekistan's best player Kenjabaev Islom had Atiquzzaman not tried to intercept.”

The Central Asian nation had better ball possession throughout the match but they hardly exposed the defence of Bangladesh, who themselves had a chance from a counter attack in the first half. That effort from Mahbubur Rahman Sufil in a one-on-one situation was saved by Uzbekistan goalkeeper Umidjon Ergashev.

“Our players executed the game plan properly and restricted the opposition in midfield. Even the opposition coach [Mochinov Alexander] praised us highly,” said Roxy.

Bangladesh will take on Sri Lanka on the final matchday tomorrow while Uzbekistan will play against hosts Tajikistan. Even if Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka and Tajikistan lose against Uzbekistan, Bangladesh are likely to finish third due Tajikistan's massive goal advantage.