Bangladesh beat Maldives first time in 18 years

Goals from Jamal Bhuiyan and Tapu Barman helped Bangladesh to clinch a 2-1 victory over the Maldives for the first time after 18 years in their second match of the Mahinda Rajapaksa Trophy at the Race Course Ground in Colombo on Saturday.

With the win, Bangladesh stayed in the final race of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksha Trophy Four Nations International Football Tournament.

Bangladesh played the Maldives on five occasions since 2003, and lost four matches featuring an embracing 0-5 goal defeat. The rest match between them ended in draw.   

Bangladesh miserably played to a 1-1 with lowly African side Seychelles in their first match despite leading by 1-0 goal till 87th minute at the same venue last Wednesday.

In the day’s match, captain Jamal Bhuiyan put Bangladesh ahead in the 12th minute utilizing a long throw of Rahmat Miah.

Mohamed Umair restored the parity for the Maldives in the 32nd minute capitalizing on a corner kick, taken by Ali Ashraf to tie the 1-1 in the first half.

Defender Topu Barman scored the long-awaited match-winner for Bangladesh in the 88th minute from a penalty.

ARR