Bangladesh conceded a 0-1 goal defeat to Tajikistan in their home match of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers play-off at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Tuesday.With the day’s feat, Tajikistan advanced to the next year’s 3rd round qualifiers of the AFC Asian Cup 2019 with a 6-0 aggregate success after beating Bangladesh by 5-0 goals in their home match on Thursday at Dushanbe.Bangladesh will now play Bhutan in the final elimination play-off to be held over two legs in September and October this year.Defender Akhtam Nazarov scored the match-winning goal for touring Tajikistan in the 8th minute by a superb free kick from just outside the penalty area that kissed far corner of the net making fool the opponent custodian (1-0).Sitting on a comfortable 5-0 advantage from the first leg in Dushanbe last week, Tajikistan extended that lead early at Bangabandhu National Stadium as Nazarov’s left-footed set-piece took a slight deflection off the wall before nestling in the right corner of the net.The visitors took the lead after only eight minutes as Akhtam’s strike took a deflection off the wall to beat Bangladesh goalkeeper Ashraful Islam after Rayhan Hasan’s attempt at clearance had conceded the free-kick just outside the penalty area. After the match, Dutch coach of Bangladesh De Kruif said, “My boys played well… there is no luck in the game. In the 90 minutes, we created a lot of chances but could not utilise those. We deserved the goal, we deserved win.” But despite facing a momentous task to get back into the tie, Bangladesh stamped their authority in midfield as the half progressed and the home side went agonisingly close to an equaliser in the 13th minute before half-time as Mohammad Ziban’s attempt from inside the area went inches wide of the target after hitting a Tajikistan defender.And Bangladesh continued to press in the second half and Tajikistan substitute Dalerdjon Tukhtasunov was forced into a goalline clearance to deny Topu Barman as the defender threatened with a towering header in the 66th minute.Visiting goalkeeper Abduaziz Makhamov, who had been by far the busier of the two custodians, then had to produce a breath-taking save to keep out a rasping 30-yard strike from Bangladesh captain Mamunul Islam to maintain Tajikistan’s advantage.In the 82nd minute, Mamunul Islam unleashed a 35 yards left footer and Tajik goalie Abu Aziz punching it to safety.Jamal Bhuiyan and Jewel Rana of Bangladesh were cautioned with yellow cards during match.
