Booters lose, face uphill battle
Booters lose, face uphill battle
After their creditable lone goal victory against Afghanistan, Bangladesh went into their second group B game of the 17th Asian Games in the football discipline against a vastly superior Uzbekistan side with an ambition to enforce a draw at the Ansan Wa Stadium in Incheon yesterday.
But the U-23 booters suffered the same fate against the same opposition, a 3-0 defeat, the same result they managed at the Guangzhou Asiad four years ago.
The defeat not only doused the high adrenaline that has been pumping around after the Afghan victory, but also decimated Bangladesh's chances of a maiden passage into the next round, which at the moment looks like a battle between Uzbekistan and Hong Kong, with both having four points from two games. Hong Kong beat Afghanistan 2-1 in another game which means Bangladesh will have to defeat Hong Kong in their final group league game to claim a place in the second round.
Bangladesh, placed 170th in the FIFA Rankings, employed as many men as possible in defence to keep 51st ranked Uzbekistan at bay. But the skilful Uzbeks sealed a victory even before the game reached the halfway mark with goals in the 14th, 21st, and 34th minutes.
Uzbekistan, who never lost to Bangladesh at any level, enjoyed the freedom of going all out after Bangladesh's Dutch coach Lodewijk de Kruif drafted five men in the backline keeping only Toklish Ahmed up front. The ploy was to avail the opportunity in counter attack but it hardly worked against Uzbekistan, who looked desperate after their disappointing 1-1 draw against Hong Kong.
The speedy Uzbekistan players used the left flank to build their attacks and successfully cracked the Bangladesh defence on a number of occasions.
The lead in the 14th minute however raised the question of whether it was a 'fair play'. With Uzbekistan striker Vadimir Kozak lying inside the Bangladesh D-box, the confused Bangladesh players stood their ground anticipating Davronbek Khashimov, who was galloping down the left flank, would pay heed to their calls for sending the ball out.
But Khashimov did not stop and whipped a cross for a lurking Vokhid Shodiev, who was denied twice before, to stab the ball into the net from close range. The goal broke the hearts of some 100 Bangladeshi spectators, most of them students and businessmen who were rooting for their beloved team.
The goal from Uzbekistan shattered Bangladesh's confidence. It took another seven minutes for the Uzbeks to double the lead through yet another attack down the left with Sardor Rashidov releasing an inch-perfect cross for an unmarked Vokhid, who nodded the ball home from inside the box.
Uzbekistan kept on attacking and made it 3-0 with Sardor Rashidov beating Bangladesh goalkeeper Liton with an impressive side volley off a low free-kick from Fozil Musaev in the 34th minute.
Bangladesh, who were busy defending their goal throughout the one-sided game, could muster only one shot on target when Hemanta let loose a 25-yarder, but the Uzbek goalkeeper Eldorbek Suyunov did not face any trouble in gripping it in the 43rd minute.
After resumption, the margin could have been bigger in the face of constant waves of attacks from Uzbekistan if goalkeeper Liton was not brilliant under the posts.
BANGLADESH
Rasel Mahmud Liton, Yeamin Munna, Rayhan Hasan, Yeasin Khan, Kesto Kumar Tapu Barman, Shohel Rana, Jamal Hossain, Mamunul Islam, Hemanta Vincent and Toklish Ahmed (Zahid Hasan).