Bangladesh 1 – 0 Maldives
Mistakes in defense and a rehearsal of missed goals—these two factors led to Bangladesh’s defeat in their first international friendly match against the Maldives. In the 17th minute, Ali Fasir, unmarked in the box, scored a header from Hamza Mohamed’s free kick, which ultimately decided the match. The Maldives had been out of international football for a year and had not played any league games due to various issues. Yet, the Maldives managed to defeat Bangladesh 1-0 at the Kings Arena.
Bangladesh dominated possession throughout the match. The team launched several attacks, with Faisal Ahmed Fahim, Sheikh Morsalin, Rakib Hossain, and Shahriar Imon creating multiple goal-scoring opportunities. However, poor finishing was the key reason behind their loss.
From the start, Bangladesh’s defense looked shaky. There were signs of insecurity in defenders Tapu Barman and Shakil Ahad while trying to stop the Maldives’ fast attackers. In the 17th minute, a lack of coordination in defense led to the conceding of the goal. Mohammad Hridoy’s unnecessary foul outside the box gave the Maldives a free kick. The Bangladesh defenders failed to mark Ali Fasir, one of the Maldives’ key players, who had a clear header into the goal from the free kick.
Despite conceding the goal, Bangladesh had more opportunities to score in the first half. Faisal Ahmed Fahim repeatedly outwitted the Maldives defense, entering the box with the ball on several occasions. However, there was a clear lack of coordination with Rakib Hossain and Sheikh Morsalin. In the 8th minute, Fahim’s cross, after taking advantage of a defensive error, was wasted as no one was positioned to finish. A header from Rakib in the 15th minute lacked enough power to threaten the goal.
After falling behind in the 17th minute, Fahim’s attempt in the following minute and Rakib’s effort in the 34th minute both failed. In the 37th minute, a header from Tapu Barman off Morsalin’s free kick went wide, and in the 44th minute, Sohail Rana’s shot from outside the box hit the side post and came back.
In the second half, after three substitutions, Bangladesh dominated the Maldives. Chandan Roy replaced Sohail Rana, Mojibur Rahman Johnny came in for Shah Kazem Kirmani, and Shahriar Imon replaced Faisal Ahmed Fahim. Bangladesh kept up the pressure with attack after attack, forcing the Maldives defense to defend deep. However, despite being under pressure, the Maldives did not lose their composure, especially their goalkeeper Hussein Sharif, who was exceptional, saving Bangladesh’s multiple attempts.
In the 70th minute, Shahriar Imon’s header went off target, and in the following 10 minutes, Bangladesh created at least five clear goal-scoring opportunities. Hussein Sharif saved a shot from Mojibur Rahman Johnny in the 75th minute, and in the 78th minute, he blocked a shot from Morsalin. He also saved two more attempts from Morsalin in the 78th and 84th minutes. In the 86th minute, Rakib Hossain’s cutback presented another opportunity for Morsalin, but he missed again. Towards the end of the match, Tapu Barman missed another chance from a corner when he failed to head the ball properly.
Failing to score has always been a weakness for Bangladesh football. This was even discussed at the pre-match press conference. However, the same old story unfolded on the field. Despite playing an attacking game and creating numerous chances, Bangladesh failed to score. The harsh truth of football is clear: without goals, you cannot win. Once again, Bangladesh was reminded of this fundamental reality.
