Booters swap big win for clean sheet
I’m very pleased with back-to-back wins against Bhutan and also to have kept a clean sheet. I believe this performance will give the boys confidence against Qatar.
JAMIE DAY, Bangladesh coach
Bangladesh completed their preparation for the joint qualifiers of the 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup with a second consecutive victory, handing Bhutan a 2-0 defeat in the second international friendly match at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Defender Yeasin Khan struck on either side of the break in front of a 5,000-strong crowd, giving the men in red and green the perfect preparation ahead of their clash against Asian champions Qatar on October 10.
Head coach Jamie Day made three changes to the squad that played the first match, with goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel, right-back Sushanta Tripura and left-winger Rabiul Hasan replacing Ashraful Islam Rana, Bishwanath Ghosh and Mohammad Ibrahim respectively.
However, Sushanta was immediately replaced by Raihan Hasan as the former suffered a muscle strain and the hosts were under pressure from the outset in the face of a possession-based display from Bhutan.
The visitors kept the Bangladesh backline on their toes with crisp passing and quick movement around the danger zone on a dry pitch, but the four-man defence -- marshalled by Yeasin, Riyadul Hasan, Rahmat Mia and Raihan -- dealt with the threat confidently.
The home side took nine minutes to launch their first attack. Nabib Newaj Jibon flicked a Raihan free-kick to Biplu Ahmed in a good position, but he took too much time and wasted the chance from inside the danger zone.
Moments later, Bhutan launched a counter-attack with Chencho Gyltshen galloping towards the box, but Raihan brilliantly stopped the pacey striker before goalkeeper Sohel blocked a grounder from Kabi Raj.
Bhutan continued to give Bangladesh the defence a tough time and although the defence was flummoxed by an attack in the 13th minute, they managed to negotiate the murky waters.
Bangladesh gradually grew in confidence with captain Jamal Bhuiyan working hard in the middle to launch attacks and it looked like the hosts were confident of taking a lead.
Yeasin Khan finally broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute after heading home a long throw from Raihan. Jibon also came close, but saw his header go narrowly wide of the near post on the half-hour mark.
Bhutan then launched another quick counter-attack and came close to equalising but Sohel did well to grip a Dawa Tshering grounder in the 31st minute.
Day made three changes in the first fifteen minutes of the second half and Bangladesh seized control and pressed hard for the second goal. They eventually doubled their lead in the 66th minute, with Yeasin again heading home a cross from Mohammad Ibrahim.
The visitors found themselves under increasing pressure to stop the Bangladeshi forwards after the fresh legs of Mamunul Islam and Jewel Rana were introduced, but Bangladesh squandered at least three scoring chances with Mahbubur Rahman Sufil, Arifur Rahman and Ibrahim either missing the target narrowly or being denied by goalkeeper Jampel.
Ultimately, instead of another big win like the 4-1 in the first match, Bangladesh had to be satisfied with the 2-0 scoreline.
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