Bangladesh defender Tapu Barman tries a header against Philippines during their last Group stage match of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup at Sylhet District Stadium on Friday. — BFF photo
A misfiring Bangladesh suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat over Philippines in their second and final group B match of the fifth Bangabandhu Gold Cup at the Sylhet District Stadium on Friday.
Michel Denials scored winner in the 22nd minute that helped Philippines secure the semi-final spot as the group champions.
Bangladesh, who qualified for semi-final along with Philippines, now settled as group runners-up.
The semi-final opponents of both sides will be determined today after the match between Palestine and Nepal.
Bangladesh’s English head coach Jamie Day made four changes to starting XI from the squad that defeated Laos 1-0 as he rested regular skipper Jamal Bhuiyan, left back Wali Faisal, right back Bishwanath Ghosh and striker Mahbubur Rahman Sufil.
Midfielder Emon Mahmud Babu, right back Susanto Tripura, left back Rahmat Miah and striker Towhidur Rahman Sabuz replaced them and they put a strong effort to make the opportunity count.
The new-look Bangladesh gave an entertaining display and should have come out as winners if they were a little bit sharp in the forward zone. They had eight shots on target but none could find the back of the net.
Philippines, on the other hand, could keep only one shot on target and they turned it into a goal.
‘For a long period we controlled the game in which we could not score a goal,’ said Bangladesh coach Day.
‘When you play against quality team and you give chances to them, they would obviously take that’s what they did today.
‘We got some positives to take from this match. I am pleased how we played and obviously disappointed as we lost. But as I said the boys were at first-class.’
Bangladesh got their first scoring chance in the very fourth minute but defender Tapu Barman’s back header following a long throw-in of Rahmat Miah was brilliantly fisted away by Philippines keeper Michel Cannas.
A resulting deflection hit the woodwork denying Bangladesh further.
Philippines went ahead in the 22nd minute against the run of play when Michel Denials found a square pass from Bahadoran Misagh and his shot deflected off Bangladesh defender Tapu Barman before finding the right corner of the post past keeper Ashraful Islam Rana.
Bangladesh appeared more attacking after the resumption as they created host of attacks and also kept the ball possession most of the time.
Philippines, on the other hand, took defensive strategy as they tried to slow the match by holding the ball in their own half.
Forward Nabib Newaz Jibon perhaps wasted the best chance for Bangladesh in the 69th minute when he headed wide after being provided with a neat cross by Sabuz from right flank.
Jamie made three changes in the last 20-minute sending three fresh legs— midfielder Mohammad Ibrahim and two strikers Motin Miah and Javed Khan.
The young players tried their best to break the Philippines defense as Javed saw his header on a corner of Emon Mahmud Babu went straight to the keeper.
Source: New Age.