Bangladesh completed their SAFF Suzuki Cup preparation with a happy note as they beat Nepal by a solitary goal in the lone FIFA international friendly match held on Thursday at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here.
In the day’s match, Shakhawat Rony scored the decisive goal for Bangladesh in the first half of the match.
Bangladesh had to wait a little to take the deserving lead as Yeamin Munna runs down from the left flank and cuts a neat cross and unmarked forward Shakhawat Rony heads the ball home from the vantage position (1-0).
Nepal desperately looking forward to equalize the margin as Heman Gurung’s well judge free kick from 25 yards went harmlessly over the cross bar. In the next minute the visitors again got another free kick but this time Bishal Rai’s shot went wide from the flank of the box.
Nepal got another scoring chance in the 29th minute but Jitendra Kuma Karki’s shot from the box is saved by goalie Asraful Islam after diving to the right.
After the resumption, Second half starts. Nepal made four changes with Nawayung Sreshtha, Kiron Kumar Limbu, Bimal Gharti Magar and Rohit Chand in where as Bangladesh also made Wali Faysal, Raihan and Jewel in the squad.
Nepal were more organized to fight back in the second half but lack of proper finishing they failed to level the margin as Rohid Chand’s cracking left footer from 25 yards went inches over the crosspieces in the 61st minute.
Rohit Chand’s must considers him as unlucky as his well-judge shot from outside the D-box returned to play after hitting the crosspiece in the 75th minute.
The boys in red and green remained defensive unit on the ground and maintained their lead till the final whistle while the visitors were totally unlucky as despite getting scoring chances they failed to produce any goal.
The Bangladesh team is expected to leave for India on Sunday (December 20) to participate in the SAFF Suzuki Cup starting on December 23 in Kerala.
Squads: Bangladesh- Ashaful Islam Rana, Yaeamin Munna, Nasiruddin Chowdhury, Yeasin Kahn, Nasirul Islam Nasir, Hemanta Vincent Biswas, Mamunul Islam Mamun, Zahid Hossain, Sohel Rana and Shakhawat Rony.
Nepal- Bikash Kuthu, Biraj Maharjan, Aditya Chowdhury, Bishal Rai, Anjan Bista, Anil Gurung, Heman Gurung, Bikram Lama, Jitendra, Karki, Ranjit Dhimal and Nabin Lama.
