UNB, Dhaka :
Bangladesh lost 2-1 against upper ranked Turkmenistan in their keenly contested 2nd Group E match of the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Qualifiers at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.
The match was locked in 1-1 goals in the first half.
The latest FIFA International ranking of Central Asian country Turkmenistan is 134 against Bangladesh’s current ranking 188.
With the 2nd consecutive defeats, Bangladesh are almost eliminated from the meet.
Bangladesh put in strong Group E of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers with Bahrain, Turkmenistan and hosts Malaysia, will play hosts Malaysia on June 14 in the remaining group match.
It was also the 2nd successive defeat for Bangladesh against Turkmenistan after suffering 1-3 goals loss in their last meeting in the Busan Asian Games in 2002.
In the day’s match, Bangladesh fought equally with their giant rivals, specially in the first half with captain Jamal Bhuiyan displaying his brilliance.
But, in the 2nd half, Turkmenistan reorganised themselves and created strong pressure over Bangladesh to score the match winner.
Although Bangladesh lost the match by a narrow margin, they displayed their best form and fighting speed till the last whistle.
The result of the match would have been different if Sazzad Hossain and Tutul Hossain Badsha of Bangladesh did not spoil two easy opportunities, one in each half.
In the day’s keenly contested match, Defender Altymyrat Annadurdyyev put Turkmenistan ahead in the 7th minute by a cool placing shot from melee, off a corner kick (1-0).
But, their leading joy was short-lived as Bangladesh midfielder Mohammad Ibrahim leveled the margin in the 12th minute by a good header from close, utilizing a long throw-in of Bishwanath Ghosh, who came his way from a back header of Rakib (1-1).
This is the first goal for Bangladesh national team in their 5th match under new head coach Javier Cabrera.
Super sub Amanov Arsalan scored the match-winning goal for Turkmenistan in the 77th minute by an easy placing shot from close (2-1).
In the opening Group E match of the ongoing Asian Cup Qualifiers last Wednesday, Bangladesh conceded 0-2 goals defeat against their 99 ranked superior gulf nation Bahrain to repeat their previous results (0-2) after 43 years in tbe President Cup Football in Seoul in 1979.
Earlier, Bangladesh came to the limelight forcing 29 ranked superior and hosts Indonesia to play goalless draw in a FIFA International Friendly in Bandung recently, and they also made a good fight with their 99 ranked superior Bahrain, except conceding two goals in span of only eight minutes.
