U-15s hold Thailand

Bangladesh under-15 football team forced a 1-1 draw against Thailand in their second match of the U-15 International Men's Football Tournament at the Buriram United Stadium in Thailand yesterday.

Bouncing back from a 4-0 defeat against Cyprus in their first match, the charges of Anwar Parvez gave a good account of themselves as they fought toe-to-toe against the hosts in front of a few hundred local spectators in their second match of the competition, which is funded by UEFA.

Bangladesh took the lead in the 34th minute when Ashikur Rahman shrugged off his marker and headed the ball home into the near post on a looping ball from a teammate.

The lead, though, lasted only 11 minutes as Thai forward Chonnapat Buaphan's glancing header on a corner nestled into the far corner of the net, with the Bangladesh goalkeeper standing at the near post.

The hosts applied heavy pressure in the last 15 minutes but failed to find the winning goal as Bangladesh held on to a creditable draw.

Bangladesh will take on their South Asian counterparts Maldives in their last match tomorrow.