Sleepless night for Jamal
Bangladesh national football team returned to Dhaka yesterday evening after playing out a 1-1 draw against India in their 2022 World Cup qualifying encounter at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Tuesday.
Bangladesh, who came agonisingly close to a victory, had to remain satisfied with just a solitary point after an 88th-minute header from Indian defender Adil Khan found its way into the back of the net, crushing the hopes of the players and the fans nationwide.
The Red and Greens, who took the lead minutes before half-time from a Saad Uddin header, had a number of chances throughout the game. Winger Mohammad Ibrahim was denied by the woodwork while a clever chip from striker Nabib Newaz Jibon was cleared by Adil from the goalline.
Bangladesh coach Jamie Day felt that his charges were unlucky to not have registered a win.
“We had a couple of chances, the second one was on the line, that would have been game over but they defended well. They had good chances as well. We defended well. We conceded from a set piece. Just unlucky we could not hold on for the final four or five minutes,” the English coach told reporters following the team’s arrival at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport yesterday.
The 39-year-old was overwhelmed with the players’ performance as he said that they had even exceeded his expectations.
“The boys showed different types of level away from home in front of thousands of people. We conceded goal in the end, but for me it was the best performance by Bangladesh players. From the first minute to the end they were fantastic, showed attitude, worked extremely hard. They did more [than I asked for],” added Day.
Although the coach was satisfied with the performance, skipper Jamal Bhuyian said that he had a sleepless night after the match.
“I had almost a sleepless night. I went to bed at 5:00am. We just missed a good chance to secure three points against India. We should have won the match. Robiul Islam was supposed to stand under the near post but he was not in right position. Had he stayed in right position, he had a chance to stop that header,” the 29-year old midfielder said with regrets before leaving Kolkata earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, Jibon could not believe how India defender Adil managed to make the goalline clearance which could well have sealed victory for Bangladesh.
“I can’t still believe how Adil stopped the ball. If there was VAR, I’m sure it was a goal. I don’t have regrets about missing the first chance but I can’t forget the second one. I could not sleep last night. My luck is not good with the national team,” lamented the Abahani forward.
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