Bangladesh National Football team suffered a frustrating 1-3 goals defeat against hosts Bhutan in their 2nd leg match of the AFC Asia Cup Qualifiers Play-Off-2 at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu on Monday evening.
With the well-merited victory, Bhutan secured a historic place in the 24-team final round from group stage in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup at the coffin of Bangladesh amid huge jubilant from small home crowd at the big bowl after sealing 3-1 win on aggregate in the meet following their goalless draw with Bangladesh in Dhaka last month.
The final round of qualifiers for the 24-team 2019 tournament in the United Arab Emirates offers a total of 12 places in the final and begins in March next year while Bangladesh will now feature in next month’s AFC Solidarity Cup in Malaysia.
It was sweet revenge for Bhutan against Bangladesh of their 0-3 goals defeat in the SAFF Championship in 2015.
In the day’s vital match, Chencho Gyeltshen scored twice and missed a penalty while Jigme Tshering Dorjee netted the remaining goal for the home side. Rubel Miah scored the lone goal for Bangladesh in the 2nd half.
Defender Zigme Dorji put Bhutan ahead in the very 4th minute of the match (1-0) while forward Chmecho Gyaltshen doubled the margin in the 24th minute (2-0).
Bangladesh winger Rubel Miah reduced the margin in the 60th minute (2-1). But a second strike by Chemcho in the 76th minute saw Bhutan through to the final round of the AFC Cup 2019 after playing goalless draw with Bangladesh in the first leg in Dhaka on September 6.
Defender Jigme Tshering Dorjee headed home from a corner before Chencho Gyeltshen added a crucial second midway through the first half with a header of his own.
