The Bangladesh hockey team fell to their second consecutive defeat in the 17th Asian Games as they lost to Malaysia 5-1 at the Seonhak Hockey Stadium yesterday.
After losing to Japan by a humiliating margin in their Group A opener, Bangladesh managed to keep the scoreline at 1-1 till 45 minutes before Malaysia netted four goals in the last quarter of the game. The opponents were in complete control of the game. Malaysia have now earned six points and are just a win away from a semi-final berth.
Bangladesh put up a solid defensive display in the first three quarters where they conceded only one goal. Mohamed Razie Rahim put Malaysia ahead in the 20th minute converting their third penalty corner.
Malaysia, bronze medallists at the Guangzhou Asiad in 2010, received eight penalty corners in the first two quarters but were denied by an in-form Bangladesh goalkeeper Asim Gope.
Bangladesh equalised in the 30th minute. Hasan Jubair Niloy provided a cross for Krishno Kumar Das who slotted the ball past Malaysia goalie S Kumar.
Mohamed Marhan Jalil took the lead again for Malaysia in the 46th minute before Izwan Firdaus, Mohamed Shahrun Nabil and Razie added one apiece in the 52nd, 56th and 60th minutes to complete the route.
Bangladesh had registered only four shots at goal and earned no penalty corners in comparison to Malaysia’s 23 attempts at goal and 12 penalty corners.
Bangladesh will play their third game against Singapore tomorrow at the same venue.
Meanwhile in gymnastics, Quazi Syque Caesar qualified for the final round in the men’s parallel bars, horizontal bar and floor exercise events.
In beach volleyball, Bangladesh lost to Qatar by 2-0 sets.
