Mithun scores in 'closed door' match
Bangladesh national football team beat BFF XI 1-0 in the latest practice match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday, thanks to a 72nd minute strike from substitute forward Mithun Chowdhury. The win was the seventh in seven matches for the national team against local opponents ahead of the SAFF Championship, and only the second 'closed-door affair'.
Although the concept of closed-door training or match is being followed worldwide for some time, it is quite new here. Dutch coach Lodewijk de Kruif imported this idea, along with his expertise in the game, in a bid to avoid media speculations ahead of such a big assignment. The coach wanted to make sure he kept his cards close to his chest and he did it almost successfully.
On the ground, the performance seemed an improvement from the last match four days ago where the national team looked lacklustre and eked out a 2-1 win. The passing and ball control was impressive yet the impact was lacking. Substitute forward Mithun Chowdhury scored a clever goal to save the blushes of the side.
The coach tinkered with the playing eleven and made a number of changes after the breather. The coach seemingly wanted to try out his options one more time before he has to trim his 24-man squad to 20 for the SAFF Championship.
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