Booters lose 2-0 against Palestine

Bangladesh made a losing start to the Three Nations Cup, suffering a 2-0 defeat to Palestine at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium in Kyrgyzstan yesterday.

Forward Layth Kharoub gave Palestine a 33rd-minute lead before defender Yaser Hamd wrapped up the win in the second half, repeating the 2-0 scoreline that Bangladesh were on the end of in the last two meetings between the sides in Bangladesh as well.

Jamie Day's team improved in terms of holding the ball and interchanging passes compared to their efforts in World Cup qualifying matches, but they could hardly penetrate and were forced to play long balls to forwards Matin Mia and Saad Uddin, who failed make inroads against the physically imposing Palestinians.

Palestine, ranked 102nd in the world, dominated as expected, but Day's five-man backline -- marshalled by centre-backs Tapu Barman, Tariq Raihan Kazi and Rezaul Karim flanked by left-wing-back Yeasin Arafat and right-wing-back Bishwanath Ghosh -- dealt well until a long ball behind the backline and a well-judged cross caused havoc twice.

Although Day tried to adopt a new playing system ahead of October's SAFF Championship, his wing-backs were pinned back by a team that enjoyed the tactical and technical superiority throughout.

Forward Mahmoud Eid came close to breaking the deadlock within the first 20 minutes but his powerful drives went inches wide, much to the relief of goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel, who later made some brilliant saves between after one error of judgement.

In the 33rd minute, Mahmoud received a long ball on the edge of the box and shrugged off Rezaul before chipping the ball over a hesitant Sohel to Layth Kharoub, who simply tapped home for the lead. Sohel then made amends, standing tall to thwart two close-range efforts from Mahmoud and Fady Zeidan in the 39th and 42nd minutes respectively.

In the 44th minute, Rakib ran down the left flank and whipped in a cross in front of the Palestine goal, but lone striker Matin arrived too late to connect.

Palestine exerted tremendous pressure at the start of the second half and doubled the lead two minutes in when Hamd nodded home a well-judged cross from Mahmoud at near post.

Day made six substitutions, including the introduction of Canada-based midfielder Rahbar Wahed Khan, who showed good control when he came on for the last 10 minutes. Coupled with his timely long balls to the left flank, Rahbar may have given Day some food for thought.