Dhaka: Visiting goalkeeper Hari Gurung was the hero as Bhutan ended a run of 13 consecutive defeats in all competitions to claim a goalless draw against Bangladesh in Tuesday’s 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers play-off at Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Pema Dorji’s side had missed the previous round of qualifiers for the next edition of the continental championship, in which Bangladesh lost 6-0 on aggregate to Tajikistan, after losing all eight games during the joint qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2019 AFC Asian Cup and had to wait for their chance in this final stage.
But Bhutan will head into October’s return fixture in a strong positon to secure a place in the final round of qualifiers for the tournament in the United Arab Emirates having recorded their last win in all competitions at home to Sri Lanka in March.
"Both the teams played well. The field was heavy; Chencho Gyeltshen could not play his natural game while Hari Gurung had an excellent game. I think this was a fair result," said Bhutan coach Pema Dorji.
"I don’t think anybody is lucky or unlucky. However Bangladesh created a number of chances, especially in the last five to 10 minutes. But I’m happy to take a point home.
"It won’t be easy for the return leg. Home games are always important because the public wants more from us. There will be crowd pressure, so it won’t be easy."
With both sides knowing the tie was their last chance to progress to the final round of qualifiers, the contest started cautiously until Bangladesh came close to an opener after 16 minutes as striker Shakhawat Hossain Rony failed to find the target with a shot following a cross from winger Rubel Miya.
The visitors also had chances in the first half as goalkeeper Ashraful Islam denied Bhutan Biren Basnet despite the midfielder only having the Bangladesh custodian to beat.
The visitors, though, were indebted to their goalkeeper after 22 minutes as Hari Gurung kept out Rony’s downward header from another Rubel delivery.
And Bhutan almost took full advantage eight minutes later as Chencho Gyeltshen saw his goalbound effort deflected to safety by Bangladesh defender Rayhan Hasan.
Bangladesh also continued to enjoy their chances as Rony was again denied by Hari Gurung from close range four minutes before half-time.
Hari Gurung again kept Bhutan level with 16 minutes remaining with another block from a frustrated Rony.
And Bhutan almost repaid the heroics of their goalkeeper five minutes later only for a brave last-ditch tackle from Topu Barman on Chencho Gyeltshen denying the Bhutan striker.
"I’m again very disappointed and I’m also very angry and very proud. I think we agree that Bangladesh did everything to score a goal. In the first 15 to 20 minutes we had two excellent scoring chances. I counted only one big chance for Bhutan in the first half," said Bangladesh coach Tom Saintfiet.
"In the last 10 minutes, I think we should have scored five to 10 goals. We had the ball too much time, but they couldn’t finish.
"Our defence was good. Our midfield was alone, but they played well. The young players played with a lot of heart. The only thing that didn’t happen was a goal. We don’t have strikers. I don’t know what we have to do because we can’t score.
"I came to the dug-out and some players were crying. It shows how these players love the country. I told them we didn’t lose the battle. 1-1 or 2-2 in Bhutan, we will qualify. If it was 1-1 here, it would have been more difficult. I believe with the motivation and spirit, we can win in Bhutan."
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário