Bangladesh thrash Afghanistan 25-0 in Asian Games Hockey Qualifiers

Bangladesh handed Afghanistan a colossal defeat of 25-0 to conclude their group stage campaign at the top of the points table in the qualifying round of the Asian Games Hockey 2018 in Oman's capital Muscat Tuesday. This is Bangladesh’s highest ever margin of victory. Bangladesh's previous highest margin of victory - 24-0 – came against Nepal during the South Asian Games 2010 in Dhaka where Mamunur Rahman Chayan and Russel Mahmud Jimmy scored nine and six goals respectively. Wearing black badges in respect of the victims of the US-Bangla plane crash, nine Bangladesh players got into the scoresheet, including six players who scored three goals or more, to secure their third straight victory in the event.

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Also read: Asian Games Hockey Qualifiers - Bangladesh thrash Hong Kong

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Youngster Romman Sarkar and Din Alam Emon netted four goals each while Ashraful Islam, Chayan and captain Jimmy scored three goals each. Hasan Jubair Niloy and Farhad Shitul bagged two apiece while Naim added the other. Bangladesh, who scored a total of 35 goals in three group matches so far, slammed a dozen goals in the first two quarters, including a hat-trick by drag-and-flick specialist Chayan. Bangladesh earlier opened their campaign with a 5-0 win over Thailand before outplaying Hong Kong 5-1 in the second game. Bangladesh ended their group stage mission with maximum nine points and will face Sri Lanka in the play-off, after which the winner will move to the final. Bangladesh drew 2-2 against Sri Lanka in the last edition and later went on to finish the qualifying campaign as champion.