Bangladesh’s Asia Cup dream shattered by defensive mistakes

Constant defensive mistakes and inefficiency in the attack shattered the dreams of the Bangladesh U-17 national football team to advance to the main stage of the Asia Cup. The red-green team lost 4-0 to host China in Group A of the AFC U-17 Asia Cup qualifiers on Sunday (November 30). With this victory, China secured its ticket to next year's main stage by becoming the group champion.

Bangladesh had high expectations in the 'do-or-die' match against China after winning four consecutive matches in the tournament. But the team was helpless in front of China's dominance from the start in front of thousands of spectators at the Chongqing Yongchuan Sports Center Stadium.

China took the lead in just 9 minutes, taking advantage of a big mistake by Bangladesh's defense. Xueyi Weihao touched the goalkeeper's hand with a long pass from the right edge. Another terrible mistake also led to China's second goal in the 39th minute. Before Bangladesh defender Kamal Mridha could take the back pass, Oihao snatched the ball and beat the goalkeeper to find the net.

The scene did not change even after the break. Oihao completed his hat-trick with a great header from a cross coming from the right in the 52nd minute, increasing the gap to 3-0. Bangladesh suffered a big defeat by conceding another goal in the final period (in the 89th minute).

Head coach Golam Rabbani Choton said in the match analysis after the defeat, China is technically, tactically, physically, mentally ahead of us in all aspects. Even then, the boys tried. We had to play five matches in five days, it is normal to make mistakes.

Bangladesh had awakened the dream of playing in the Asia Cup with four consecutive wins. But the harsh reality once again showed that the gap between South Asia and the main stage of Asia is still large. Although the possibility of advancing to the main stage at the age-based level was created after two decades, it did not materialize in the end.