Dhaka- Bangladesh completed a clean sweep of sorts in the two-match FIFA International Friendly (Tier-1) over touring Bhutan beating the Himalayan 2-0 goals in the 2nd and last match at floodlit Bangabandhu National Stadium here on Thursday. Unusually, it was defender Md Yeasin Khan who netted both goals for Bangladesh, with a header in each half on his forays into the opposition box.
Touring Bhutan, who went down 4-1 in the first match last Sunday, tried to attack from the very beginning creating some chances in the first half but failed to convert any.
The hosts finally broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute as Yeasin Khan opened his account getting on the end of a long throw-in by substitute Md Rayhan Hasan, who had replaced Sushanto Tripura in just the 7th minute.
In the second half, Bangladesh came into their own and produced some good chances with their attacking football.In the 63rd minute, Bhutanese goalkeeper Ngawng Jamphel denied a long-range effort from Bangladesh Captain Jamal Bhuiyan.
And just two minutes, Yeasin Khan doubled the host margin netting his 2nd goal with a header inside the danger zone, off a cross by midfielder Md Ibrahim in the 65th minute (2-0).
Bangladesh could widen their margin in the 82nd minute but goalkeeper Ngawng Jamphel again denied a long-range left-footer from midfielder Md Ibrahim.
Bangladesh booters are getting ready for their upcoming matches of the Joint Qualification for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 against Qatar on October 10 at Bangabandhu National Stadium here and India on October 15 at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
Bangladesh, who was put on Group E of the AFC Cup with Qatar, Oman, neighbouring India and Afghanistan, started their campaign with a 0-1 goal defeat against Afghanistan in their first match at the Central Republican Stadium in the Tajik capital Dushanbe on September 10.
In the remaining group matches, Bangladesh will play Oman on November 14 in Oman, Afghanistan on 26 March 2020 in Bangladesh, Qatar on March 31 in Qatar, India on June 4 in Bangladesh and Oman on June 9 in Bangladesh.Bangladesh are currently the 41st in AFC and 187th in FIFA rankings while Bhutan are 39th in AFC and 185th in FIFA rankings.
Earlier, a 26-member Bhutan national team – 20 players and six officials – arrived here last Friday responding to Bangladesh Football Federation’s invitation to play the two preparatory matches.
Bangladesh: Shahidul Alam Sohel, Md Rahmat Mia (Yeasin Arafat-85th), Yeasin Khan, Sushanto Tripura (Md Rayhan Hasan-7th), Jamal Bhuiyan, Nabib Newaz Jiban (Md Arifur Rahman-65th), Biplu Ahamed, Saad Uddin (Mahbubur Rahman-57th), Md Rabiul Hasan (Md Ibrahim- stoppage time), Sohel Rana, Riyadul Hasan.
Bhutan: Ngawng Jamphel, Lungtok Dawa, Nima Tshering, Chencho Gyeltshen, Dawa Tshering, Tenzin Dorji, Kabi Raj Rai, Chimi Dorji, Kinley Penjor, Tinley Dorji (Lhendup Dorji -76th), Dorji.UNB
