Early goals rock Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s 2018 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifier against Australia at Perth got off to the worst possible start as they had to endure a strong Socceroos at their back yard.

Before Bangladeshi players could keep possession of the ball and set up any move, Australia came out hard and dominated proceedings with their brand of football.

When the first half whistle blew, it was a huge relief for Bangladesh as they looked ragged and clueless at the face of the Australian chastening.

Australia were able to score four goals without breaking much sweat within twenty minutes of the World Cup qualifier.

Leckie opened the scoring for Australia in the fifth minute and broke his scoring drought for Socceroos.

Rogic got his first goal in an Australian shirt when he stunned the visitors in the 8th minute. Australia looked to stamp their authority early after Leckie was on target.

An unlucky deflection off Barman gave Socceroos their third goal when Rogic’s effort caught the Bangladeshi defender in an awkward position.

Milligan shuttled the ball to an overlapping Davidson. Rogic utilized Davidson’s first-time cross with his swinging left peg, but needed some assistance from his opponent to see the ball past Bangladesh’s goal-keeper Alam.

The fourth goal came when Leckie forced a fine diving save from Alam to a Davidson cross, but the ball dropped at the feet of Burns who smacked it home to put his team on the driver’s seat quite easily.

It will be the first time when this two teams have met in a full international contest and the first time Australia’s national team will play in Perth since they beat Indonesia 3-0 in a friendly at Subiaco Oval in 2005 in front of just 13,719 fans.

Australia who ranked fourth in Asia and 63 in the world, will start the clash red hot favourites against the 168th ranked Bangladesh.

Bangladesh are winless this year, losing two and drawing three of their five matches – including being beaten by Kyrgyzstan.

Source: The Daily Star