A late injury-time goal by Mohammad Faizat broke the hearts of more than 26,000 spectators inside the Bangabandhu National Stadium, and millions watching on television, as Malaysia Under-23 yesterday emerged as the champions of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup following a thrilling 3-2 win over hosts Bangladesh in the final.
After shipping two goals in the opening half, Bangladesh scripted a brilliant comeback early in the second half to bring parity to the scoreline. The home side dominated proceedings till the end of the grand finale only to be denied by Malaysian winger Faizat in the dying stages of the game.
Following the referee’s final whistle, the silence in the jam-packed stands said it all. The Bangladesh footballers fell to the ground in dismay while head coach Lodewijk de Kruif stood still on the dugout without talking to anyone or showing any movement.
The scenario could have been totally different had the hosts availed one of their chances as there were plenty of opportunities for them throughout the game.
Bangladesh began the game in pretty much the same fashion as the end – in disappointment.
The absence of an in-form Hemanta Vincent Biswas, one of Bangladesh’s key players, dealt a hammer blow to the hosts’ hopes of a title win. The situation compounded further through the exit of winger Zahid Hossain, who was forced off with an injury in the ninth minute.
Losing the two marquee players as well as their winning combination was a bad start. Bangladesh though showed plenty of bravado and bravery to stage a comeback from 2-0 down. Despite going 2-0 behind, the hosts never wilted under pressure until Faizat’s heartbreaker in the 92nd minute.
Hemanta was replaced by Monaem Khan Raju while Abdul Baten Mojumder Komol came off the bench in place of Zahid.
Rayhan Hasan’s long throw-ins has been a constant worry for the opposition throughout the tournament and paved the way for the home side’s first chance in the 12th minute. Jahid Hasan Emily’s header from the ensuing throw-in though was too weak and off-target.
Three minutes later, Bangladesh’s defensive midfielder Jamal Bhuiyan tried his luck from the edge of the box but his effort also went wide.
And against the run of play, Malaysia took the lead from a spectacular free-kick, courtesy captain Nazirul Naim in the 31st minute. The visitors earned a set-piece after a Yeasin Khan foul on Kumaahran 30 yards from goal. Nazirul let fly as the ball ended in the top-right corner leaving Bangladesh goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel helpless.
Kumaahran further silenced the crowd doubling Malaysia’s lead in the 41st minute. Receiving a through pass from left-winger Muhammad Syazwan, Kumaahran drifted into the penalty area, outpaced Nasir Uddin and Rayhan before slotting his shot past Sohel.
The tourists could have ended the game a minute later but Sohel produced a superb save to deny Naim’s close-range effort following a Kumaahran cutback.
Bangladesh started the second half brightly as Emily finally returned to scoring ways. Three minutes after resumption, Emily tapped in to reduce the arrears after Nasir’s high-rise header off a Rayhan throw-in rebounded off the Malaysian custodian’s body.
After the goal, the home side seemed to get back their momentum as they heaped more pressure on the opponents. And thanks to a brilliant header from Yeasin, Bangladesh equalised in the 54th minute. The central defender jumped into the air to meet Mamunul Islam’s precise corner and sent the ball into the centre of the post.
Rayhan’s throw-in created another opportunity for the hosts in the 79th minute but this time Emily’s header hardly troubled Malaysia keeper Mohammad Farhan.
With just a minute left till the final whistle, Malaysia sealed victory, silencing the home crowd in the process. A glancing Faizat header from the middle of the box left the home players stunned as the tourists clinched the third edition of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh Football Federation president Kazi Salahuddin were present among others on the occasion and distributed the awards among the winners.
