Under-18s ease past Maldives
Bangladesh produced another spirited performance to notch up a commanding 2-0 win over Maldives in their second match of the SAFF U-18 Championship at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan yesterday.
Saikat Mahmud Munna put Bangladesh ahead in the ninth minute before Jafar Iqbal struck the second in the 45th minute to take Bangladesh on top of the five-team table with six points. Hosts Bhutan, who also moved to six points following a 1-0 win over defending champions Nepal, trail Bangladesh on goal difference.
This win might be considered a consolation for Bangladesh as the senior side had been thrashed by their Maldivian counterparts 5-0 in a friendly match in Male last year.
Following an incredible come-from-behind win against India, Bangladesh picked up right from where they had left the other day and took full control of midfield with nice exchange of passes before grabbing the lead.
The build-up to the opening goal was brilliant too as the boys in red and green completed nine passes before midfielder Sohanur Rahman fed the ball through to Munna, who drove a grounder with his left foot to beat the Maldives goalkeeper.
The charges of Mahabub Hossain Roxy came close to doubling the lead but Maldives goalkeeper Ahmed Samah Ali brilliantly denied Jafar in the 36th minute.
However, Samah was helpless when Jafar produced a spectacular finish with his left foot from almost 25 yards out after a string of passes with his fellow forwards. The goal raised the tally for the Chittagong Abahani winger to three from two matches following his brace in the 4-3 win against India on Monday.
Maldives looked a bit more organised after the break and even launched a few attacks on the Bangladesh half. The islanders almost reimbursed one goal but Bangladesh goalkeeper Mahfuz Hasan Pritom made a nice decent coming out off the blocks in the 75th minute.
Bangladesh, too, launched a brilliant counterattack when Biplo Ahmed ran down from the left flank to enter the box and drove a powerful shot, only for the goalkeeper to come to Maldives' rescue.
Bangladesh coach Mahbub Hossain Roxy said his charges executed the gameplan perfectly. “Our plan was to score early by applying pressure which the players executed well. In a word, we didn't let the opposition get a grip of the match,” the coach said.
Bangladesh will play their second match against holders Nepal on September 25 before facing hosts Bhutan in their last match on September 27.
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