Sports Reporter:
Favourites Bangladesh (BD) Under-19 Football team was held 2-2 goals by Maldives Under-19 Football team in their opening Group-A match of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Under-19 Championship at Golden Jubilee Stadium in Arunachal Province of India on Friday.
Maldives came from behind and earned their most successful draw with Bangladesh.
Captain of Bangladesh Nazmul Huda Faysal put his team ahead in the 13th minute of the play. Nazmul Huda Faysal snatched the ball from Maldives skipper Azam Rashid and made no mistake to find the net by a forceful shot (1-0).
Rufat Kazi made it 2-0 by a header using a cross of his teammate Mithu Chowdhury just before the lemon-break.
Bangladesh totally dominated over Maldives in the first half but after the interval Maldives bounced back and leveled the margin.
Anuf Abdullah of Maldives made it 1-2 in the 57th minute of the clash.
After 16 minutes Ehtan Jaki of Maldives equalised the margin in the 73rd minute of the match.
Tomorrow Bangladesh will take on Bhutan in their second Group-A match at the same venue. The match will kick-off at 4: 30pm at the same venue.
Maldives will face Bhutan in the last Group-A match at the same venue on May 13.
