Also read: Bangladesh U23s begin with crushing defeat
Ord made five more changes to the starting XI that lost 3-1 against Tajikistan on Friday with defenders Mohammad Atikuzzaman and Asaduzzaman Bablu and midfielder Fazley Rabbi making their maiden appearance in the first team. Rubel Miya, Saad Uddin and Jafar Iqbal returned to the playing XI after featuring in the 7-0 loss against Jordan in the first match.
"In this match, we played better than the last two games against Jordan and Tajikistan. We tried to create scoring chances but Palestine had possession of the ball. I think that the mistakes our defenders made led to us conceding many goals, especially against Jordan in the first match, but we stepped up our game in the following matches. I believe that we need hard work and a lot of effort in the next phase to have better results,'' said Ord.Palestine finished the group campaign as champion with seven points while Jordan were placed second with six points. Meanwhile, Bangladesh were scheduled to leave Palestine on Monday afternoon. They will return to Dhaka via Jordan on Tuesday. With new Israeli security measures in place at the sensitive Jerusalem holy site after a weekend of violence with fears that more unrest could follow, Bangladesh team manager Satyajit Das Rupu told Dhaka Tribune over phone that everything is normal at the place they have been staying in Bethlehem and that they would return according to their previous schedule.
Also read: Much improved Bangladesh U23s concede defeat to Tajikistan
“Everything is OK here. Some players were a little bit anxious but we all have been too busy with our games to follow the situation. We will leave Palestine for Jordan [Monday] at 12pm as scheduled. We will reach the country on Tuesday,” said Rupu, hours before their last game against Palestine.
