Booters lose first practice game 2-0
The Bangladesh national football team started the 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup preparation on the wrong foot, suffering a 2-0 defeat to FC Kuktosh in their first practice match in Dushanbe yesterday.
Jamie Day’s opted to start with a young team featuring only three senior players -- captain Jamal Bhuiyan, defender Yeasin Khan and goalkeeper Ashraful Islam Rana -- in the match against the Tajikistan Premier League club.
He also rested all the Abahani players, who had joined the team immediately after playing their AFC Cup inter-zone semifinal against April 25 SC. The other starters were Riyadul Hasan, Arifur Rahman, Mohammad Ibrahim, Rabiul Hasan, Rahmat Mia, Bishwanath Gosh, Biplu Ahmed and Matin Mia.
The British coach made 10 changes to the team in the second half, leaving only Riyadul for the full 90 minutes. He sent on goalkeeper Anisur Rahman Zico, Sushanta Tripura, Sohel Rana, Tutul Hossain Badsha, Jewel Rana, Saad Uddin, Nabib Newaj Jibon and Mamunul Islam.
Despite that, Bangladesh could not come back into the match after having gone a goal behind earlier. Instead, FC Kuktosh -- who finished third in last edition of Tajikistan Premier League -- scored a second in the 63rd minute.
Bangladesh will play their second and final practice match against CSKA Pamir tomorrow before facing Afghanistan on September 10.
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