Sabuj nets hat-trick as Bangladesh win warm-up

Towhidul Alam Sabuj netted a hat-trick as Bangladesh earned a brilliant 4-3 win over Thailand's Premier League outfit Bangkok Glass Football Club in their second and final warm-up at Leo Stadium Bangkok Friday, ahead of their Tuesday's much-awaited Laos international friendly. Bangladesh head coach Andrew Ord fielded a younger starting XI compared to the one in the first practice match against Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FC Wednesday. The youngsters in red and green repaid the faith as Mahbubur Rahman Sufil gave the visitor the breakthrough with only seven minutes into the clock before the host equalised 10 minutes later. Sufil received an early injury scare and was replaced by Chittagong Abahani Limited forward Sabuj. Sabuj, who was the top-scorer in the Bangladesh Premier League among the locals last season, made an immediate impact after adding two more goals in the 30th and 42nd minute.

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Bangladesh led the first half 3-1 but the home side scored twice in the 77th and 81st minute to bring parity before Sabuj completed his treble, as well as sealed the winner, in the 82nd minute. Like the 1-0 defeat against Ratchaburi, Ord fielded around 19 players throughout the tie but the players who couldn't play 90 minutes in the last match were given the chance to start the game. Youngsters like Sufil, Masuk Mia Joni, Rahmat Mia and Biplu Ahmed got into the starting XI while Saad Uddin and Tutul Hossain Badshah kept their place in the starting XI. Bangladesh manager Satyajit Das Rupu informed that their finishing improved compared to the previous match but a lot of work is still to be done in order to sharpen the defence-line, ahead of their first international encounter in 17 months, against Laos. The team are scheduled to fly off for Laos Sunday.