Bangladesh have found themselves on brink of elimination after just one game. A demoralising 2-0 loss to hosts Nepal inthe first game of the SAFF Championship at the Dasharath Stadium yesterday left red and greens both red in the face and green with envy.
It was a below par performance from Bangladesh and has led to a must win situation in the next two matches against defending champions India and Pakistan. Bangladesh players lacked spirit, their organization was poor and two costly mistakes in clearing two set pieces cost Bangladesh the match.
Overall it was all Nepal who dominated the game with a cool headed approach. The hosts were focused and composed and were unfortunate not to win by a bigger margin as Bangladesh goalkeeper Mamun Khan pulled out two superb saves to save his team from more humiliation.
The absence of skipper Mamunul Islam proved to be too much as Bangladesh forwards failed to create a single chance that would have bothered Nepalese goalie Kiron Chemjong. In the whole 90 minutes there were hardly any passes in the final third of the pitch that could have been picked by the forwards.
The midfield was poor and Denmark born Jamal Bhuiyan, basically a defensive midfielder was the lone man to show his full commitment. He alone who took a shot towards the Nepali goal which was saved for a corner.
With their inspirational skipper in the dugout the stage was set for someone to take charge and sparkle. That did not happen. Star winger Zahid Hossain Emily was a total flop, he often found himself surrounded by two to three defenders and completely lacked penetration. Skipper Nasiruddin paved the way for the first goal by collecting an unnecessary a yellow card in the midfield and from then on everything went wrong to Bangladesh.
Only Jamal Bhiuyan and Mamun Khan played to expected levels, with nine players of a team below par it is not possible for Bangladesh to win the match, let alone compete as equals.
Bangladesh conceded the first goal in the 19th minute as Nepalese forward Bharat Khawas curved a cross from the right flank and Anil Gurung headed the ball in the far post. When the soft header was heading to post there was no one under the woodwork to clear it.
Bharat Khawas, the inspirational forward of Nepal in the 31st minute headed a low Jagajit Shreshta corner into the middle of the net. It was also a silly mistake as Bangladesh's defenders probably were unfamiliar to low corners as they were concentrating on an aerial route.
After the interval Jahid Hossain was substituted by Mobarak but Bangladesh failed to overcome the Nepal's defensive approach.
In a sudden counter attack Anil Gurung made his way through the defence and chipped the ball but Mamun Khan made a good save in the 66th minute.
Mamun Khan saved Bangladesh again in the 74th minute as he punched a power packed shot from Rohit Chand for a corner. And it was the same player who in the dying minutes shot up with virtually only Mamun Khan to beat.
Bangladesh faces defending champions India in their second match on September 3.
Match Highlights
18’ Bangladesh skipper Nasiruddin Chowdhury gets a yellow card for fouling Anil Gurung
19’Goal Nepal scores. Bharat Khawascurves in a cross from the right flank and Anil Gurung heads the ball into the far post pastMamun Khan. The ball hits the far post and crosses the goal line
26’ Bangladesh earns a free kick about 25 metres away from the goal, but Zahid Hossain’s low free kick misses the far corner
31’Goal again. Nepal takes a two goal lead. JagajitShreshta curves a low corner that dips down in the middle of the box and Bharat Khawas dives forward to head the ball home
56’ Jahid Hossain, overall a flop, is substituted andMobarak Hossain comes in
60’ Bangladesh defender Md. Linkon receives a yellow card
66’Bangladesh goalie Mamun Khan stretches to his limit to grip a chip from Anil Gurung in a one-on-one position
74’ Its MamunKhan to the rescue again as he punches away a cracking shot from Nepalese midfielder Rohit Chand off a corner
76’ Forward ShakhawatRony replaces defenderAtikurRahmamMishu
80’ Bharat Khawas feeds Anil Gurung and he blasts a left footed shot past the side post
84’ Jamal Bhuiyan’s grounder from 20 yards is saved by Nepalese goalie KironChemjong,
90’ Mamun Khan dives into the feet of Rohit Chand and saves what looked to be a sure goal
