Tapu ensures draw against Afghanistan
A late strike from defender Tapu Barman helped Bangladesh ensure a 1-1 draw against Afghanistan in a World Cup and Asian Cup qualifier at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.
As forwards struggled to find the equaliser, the centre-back pairing of Riyadul Hasan and Tapu Barman became the architects behind Bangladesh's valuable points against Afghanistan, who boasted players based across continents. They also said in pre-match conference that they were thinking of nothing but taking all three points and things seemed headed that way when Amir Sharifi gave Afghanistan a 47th-minute lead.
Riyadul headed down a cross from the left for Tapu, who chested the ball beyond himself and his marker Masih Saighani from inside the box before finishing on the turn in the 84th minute.
Bangladesh coach Jamie Day on Wednesday told The Daily Star that they needed to perform beyond their limits and his charges truly played to their best to deliver a draw that will definitely boost the team ahead of the game against India on June 7.
In the absence of key players, Jamie was not left with an option other than making drastic changes to the starting XI and picked only four starters - Rahmat Mia, Jamal Bhuiyan, Biplu Ahmed and Sohel Rana -- had played the reverse fixture against Afghanistan in Dushanbe in 2019. Seven new players, including Tariq Raihan Kazi making his debut at right-back, were drafted into a 4-2-3-1 formation.
At the other dugout, Anoush Dastgir made only three changes to the team that beat Bangladesh 1-0 in Dushanbe.
Jamie's charges were expectedly put under pressure from the start against Afghanistan and Bangladesh chased their technically superior opponents for the first three minutes before winning the ball and slowly growing in confidence.
Compared to the reverse fixture, Bangladesh adopted a far more positive approach in the first half and smoothly exchanged passes in midfield while also rapidly pressing opponents in their own half.
With Afghanistan enjoying the lion's share of possession, Bangladesh's defenders thwarted numerous attacks and, in the 16th minute, quickly transitioned on the break, exposing the Afghan backline.
Jamal Bhuiyan played the ball behind the opposing defenders and Masuk Mia Jonny entered the box before cutting the ball back, but there was no one on the end to connect.
After resumption, Bangladesh lost their concentration a bit and conceded in the 47th minute when Amir Sharifi brilliantly placed a David Ahmed Najem cut-back to the far post despite being marked closely by Biplu Ahmed.
Bangladesh went on the offensive after conceding, with Jamie sending on two strikers -- debutant Mohammad Jewel and Mehedi Hasan Royal -- alongside midfielder Manik Mollah and defender Rimon Hossain and the changes had a good impact.
Matin drove off target from the top of the box before substitute Mohammad Abdullah's angled strike was thwarted by the outstretched leg of goalkeeper Ovays Azizi in the 80th minute.
Bangladesh kept pressing to level the margin and the moment the players had been waiting for arrived when Tapu found the back of the net.
Comments