Bangladesh players comparatively improved their performance from the first warm-up when they drew in the second and last practice match 1-1 against Tajik League outfit CSKA Pomir at Hisor Stadium in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe Thursday, prior to their 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asia Cup joint qualification match against Afghanistan Tuesday.
Youngster Robiul Hasan, who scored one goal each against Cambodia and Laos this year, put the men in red and green ahead with only three minutes into the clock, finding the back of the net from a Mohammad Ibrahim cross from the right flank.
Pomir’s Mabat Shoev equalized in the 28th minute.
Bangladesh, who conceded a 2-0 defeat against Tajik League giant FC Kuktosh in the first practice match Tuesday, started with a different XI but Jamie Day fielded as many as 21 players, including 10 as substitutes like the last game.
Abahani Limited trio – Tutul Hossain Badshah, Sohel Rana and Saad Uddin – are the only three changes who fully recovered to make it to the starting XI.
Badshah partnered Yeasin Khan in central defence while Saad played as a lone striker.
All the players were substituted after the break except Sushanta Tripura.
Bangladesh head coach Jamie Day wants to focus on the performance of the players when his side take on top-tier Tajik League outfit CSKA Pomir in their second and last practice match at Hisor Stadium in Tajikistan capital Dushanbe Thursday.https://t.co/LllWyLLbB2
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 4, 2019
Abahani goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel made two fine saves in the second half, including a penalty, to keep the score intact.
“It was a good game. We played better than the first practice match. The shape of the defence was better. We had some chances from Saad, Ibrahim and Arifur [Rahman]. Saad’s effort was saved from the goal-line. The coach (Day) discussed with the players after the game regarding the mistakes they made during the game,” said team manager Satyajit Das Rupu after the game.
Scorer Robiul said, “Every player performed well. We tried to win the game. We want to put up our best to get a positive result against Afghanistan Tuesday.”
Afghanistan were scheduled to begin their World Cup qualifying campaign against Asian champion Qatar at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha Thursday night.
Squad: Ashraful Islam Rana; Yeasin Khan, Tutul Badshah, Sushanta Tripura, Bishwanath Ghosh; Jamal Bhuiyan, Sohel Rana, Mohammad Ibrahim, Biplu Ahmed, Saad Uddin, Robiul Hasan.
Substitutes: Mamunul Islam, Nabib Newaj Jibon, Shahidul Alam Sohel, Rahmat Mia, Yeasin Arafat, Riyadul Rafi, Arifur Rahman, Mahbubur Rahman Sufil, Motin Mia, Jewel Rana.