Bangladesh Under-23 football team put up a courageous display in the first match of the SS Steel International Friendly Series against the Nepal U-23 side with a convincing 1-0 victory at the Army Stadium on Tuesday.
Midfielder Sohel Rana appeared as the central difference maker between the two Saff sides with a top-notch performance alongside scoring the all-important goal from a screamer to give the hosts the lead in the two-match friendly series.
The match-winning goal might have given Sohel the best player award but overall, all the players deserved credit not only for the victory but also for the performance they constructed yesterday. The team chemistry gave the visitors little chance to create anything in the game, especially in the first hour.
The defence which conceded four goals against an amateur Bangladesh Army team on Saturday looked different and solid from the beginning. The combination between midfield and defence also made for pleasant viewing.
The first half was totally dominated by the hosts. Atiqur Rahman Meshu led the back four with a rock-solid defensive display. Hemanta Vincent Biswas continued to impress, especially in the first 40 minutes before he was substituted by Omor Faruk Babu after picking up an injury. Yousuf Sifat made more threats than any other attacking player on the pitch.
The home side was all over the opponents from the outset and it was Toklis Ahmed Tonmoy who created the first chance of the game with just three minutes into the clock. The Sheikh Jamal winger paced forward through the right flank and provided a low cross into the middle of the box but Wahed Ahmed was a little slow in connecting the ball.
Wahed had the first shot on target in the 13th minute but it was too weak to create any trouble for the Nepal goalkeeper. A minute later, Hemanta had a great opportunity to open the scoring. Sifat fed Hemanta with a through pass and the youngster broke into the penalty area skipping past two defenders but his shot was parried away by keeper Alan Neupane for a corner.
Nepal's only chance of the opening half arrived in the 31st minute when a bicycle kick attempted by striker Asim Jung Karki flew way off the target following a cross by Rabin Shrestha from the left flank.
Bangladesh, again, could have taken the lead in the 41st minute. Mohammedan forward Sifat displayed great skill and technique whilst dribbling past a defender before his tricky chip was punched away by the keeper. Sifat headed on the rebound which fell kindly at the feet of Meshu but his shot went wide.
The hosts got their reward after resumption and deservedly took the lead at the hour mark from a stunning goal by Sohel. Collecting a missed clearance by a Nepalese defender from Mamunul Islam’s corner, the Sheikh Jamal midfielder stopped the ball and then unleashed a powerful grounder from 20 yards out which flew into the top left corner.
Nepal’s best chance of the game came in the 64th minute when substitute midfielder Shyam Nepal, despite having an open net in front of him, saw his shot blocked by Meshu.
Heman Gurung made an immediate effect after coming off the bench in the 70th minute. Receiving a back pass from Bikram Lama, the forward took a powerful volley from outside the box which was fisted away by Bangladesh custodian Russel Mahmud Liton.
The crowd went wild after the game, entering the pitch and celebrating the victory with the players.
