Hosts Bangladesh beat the Maldives by 2-1 goals in the second and last match to level the two-match Bashundhara Group FIFA Tier-1 International Friendly series 1-1 at the floodlight Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka on Saturday evening.
Bangladesh, which made a frustrating start in the two-match series losing to the Maldives by a 0-1 goal at the same venue last Wednesday, today took the field in a must-win situation to revive their prestige and save the series, and finally they came out successful by an injury-time goal by substitute booter Papon Singh.
The Maldives team, which was deprived of playing any international or major football in the last year, surprisingly forced hosts Bangladesh to concede a 0-1 defeat in the first match last Wednesday to take sweet revenge for their 1-2 goal defeat against Bangladesh at the same venue in October last year.
This was the 2nd win for Bangladesh playing eight international matches this year after beating Bhutan and the 3rd win against the Maldives in their 5th meeting since 2023.
Bangladesh outplayed the Maldives by 3-1 goals in the SAFF Championship in 2023 and beat the Maldives by 2-1 goals in Dhaka in the World Cup Qualifiers in 2023.
Bangladesh played a 1-1 draw with the Maldives in Male in the World Cup Qualifiers in 2023, apart from conceding a 0-1 defeat against them in the last match here on Wednesday.
In the day's match, midfielder Ali Fasir, who scored the match-winner for the Maldives against Bangladesh in the first match last Wednesday, again put his team ahead in the 23rd minute by a ground-placed shot, utilising a blunder mistake of hosts captain and defender Topu Barman silencing the local crowd (1-0).
Medio Mojibor Rahman Jony levelled the margin for Bangladesh in the 43rd minute with a brilliant shot from the top of the box, dodging past two opponent defenders amid a huge celebration from home fans (1-1).
Super sub midfielder Papon Singh scored the much-awaited match-winning goal for Bangladesh in the 4th minute of the added time (90+4 minute) by a straight shot from the danger zone, off a ready-made pass from Shahriar Emon, amid huge satisfaction from the home crowd (2-1).
In the day's match, the Maldives team maintained their supremacy till the 42nd minute, featuring a deserving 1-0 lead beating off coloured Bangladesh, but Bangladesh regained their rhythm, scoring an equaliser in the 43rd minute.
Earlier in the 40th minute, the Maldives custodian brilliantly saved an attempt by Foysal Ahmed Fahim, while Bangladesh goalkeeper Mitul Marma also saved his castle nicely, foiling a good header by Ali Fasir in a one-to-one situation in the 52nd minute.
With the day's feat, the Spanish head coach of Bangladesh team Javier Cabrera completed his initial term/ contract (till December 2024) successfully, and the Bangladesh national team also completed this year's engagement with a win.
