AFC Asian Cup Qualifier: Bangladesh coming home empty-handed

Bangladesh completed their Group E engagement of the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Qualifiers with all-loss after suffering a humiliating 1-4 goals defeat against upper ranked Malaysia in the last group match at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

Malaysia dominated the first half by 2-1 goals in front of some 52,000 strong home crowd Tuesday evening, UNB reports.

With the day’s feat, Malaysia assured their  AFC Asian Cup berth from Group E.

Some 7,000 Bangladeshi fans gathered at the stadium to encourage their beloved team.

This was the 7th win for 154 ranked Malaysia national team in their ten meetings with 188 ranked Bangladesh national side since 1975.

Bangladesh beat Malaysia once by 2-1 goals in the Delhi Asian Games in 1982. But, the last two matches between two teams, both were Int’l friendlies, ended in draw—1-1 draw in 2012 and goalless draw in 2015.

In the day’s vital match, Bangladesh were entirely off coloured and always found busy to resist Malaysian attacks one after another.

Bangladesh custodian Anisur Rahman Zico, who displayed his brilliance in the last two matches, foiling a series of attempts properly, conceded two casual goals in the day’s match.

Forward Muhammad Safawi Rasid put Mslaysia ahead in the 17th minute from a penalty (1-0).

Malaysia got the spot kick when Bangladesh defender Atiqur Rahman Fahad committed a foul while trying to clear a ball in the danger zone.

Midfielder Mohammad Ibrahim, who scored the lone goal against Turkmenistan in the previous match, scored the equaliser for Bangladesh in the 32nd minute by a brilliant header from goalmouth melee, off a long throw-in of Bishwanath Ghosh, came his way from a back header of Rakib (1-1)

Defender Dion Cools scored the 2nd goal for Malaysia in the 38th minute by an angular shot from left wing that kissed the net making fool the Bangladesh custodian Zico (2-1).

Malaysian captain cum striker Syafiq Ahmed further increased the margin in the 47th minute by a back header from melee (3-1).

Substitute forward Darren Lok sealed the fate of the match scoring the 4th goal in the 73rd minute by an easy push from close (4-1).

After the day’s debacle, Bangladesh finished at bottom  in the four-team Group E of the Asian Cup Qualifiers after suffering two successive defeats.

They conceded 0-2 goals defeat against 99 ranked superior gulf nation Bahain and 1-2 goals defeat against 54 ranked superior Central Asian country Turkmenistan.