Bangladesh stormed into the final of the 11th SA Games Dhaka 2010 football with an exciting 1-0 victory over India in the first semifinal at the Bangabndhu National Stadium in Dhaka on Friday 05 February 2010.
Substitute forward Touhidul Alam Sobuj struck the winner in the 85th minute of the match. Bangladesh will face the winner of the Maldives-Afghanistan second semifinal on Monday 08 February 2010.
Bangladesh dominated the scene but had to wait for 85 minutes to break the deadlock. The attacking brand of football cornered the Indian U-20 team who showed good temperament but lacked the experience to topple their opponents cheered by about 15 thousand vocal audience at the stands.
Bangladesh’s aerial exploration proved unproductive due to the height of the Indian defence led by 6 feet four custodian Gurpreet Singh. The Indian back four hardly allowed any free spaces in the box making the life difficult for Bangladesh attackers.
However Bangladesh relished the counter attacking strategy of the Indians and came near to a strike on a number of occasions. The incessant overlapping of Waly Faisal and Nasir in the either flanks, the agility of midfielder Yusuf and the ever reliable keeping of Aminul helped Bangladesh’s dream come true.
However India threw the chill through the Bangladesh spine in the seventh minute when Manan Deep the tall Indian forward headed a Milan Singh cross that kissed the Bangladesh crosspiece before landing on the top net.
Bangladesh hit back with a series of attacks and Emily saw his fierce drive from the top of the box gripped by a diving Gurpreet
Bangladesh survived a scare in the 20th minute when onrushing Aminul misjudged the bounce of a long ball but defender Rezaul Karim’s timely clearance denied Indian skipper Jeje Lalphekhula’s aspiration of taking control of the ball.
In the very second minute after the change of ends Yusuf headed a cross of Waly Faisal but the ball sailed over the crosspiece.Aminul was in his brilliant best in the 55th minute stretching to his limit to punch a Lalrindika Ralte free kick from 20 yards for a corner.
Bangladesh coach Zoran Djordevic took experienced names Emily, Enamul, and Shakil to introduce fresh legs Mithun Chowdhury, Abdul Baten Komol and Towhidul Alam Sobuj and reaped the fruit.
The attacking flair was amplified. Yusuf’suj rasping header off a Waly Faisal cross beat Gurpreet in the air in the 55th minute but richoetted off the right hand post.
Bangladesh’s golden moment arrived at the 85th minute when Komol unleashed a fierce grounder from the top of the box that bounced out of a diving Gurpreet Singh’s grip, unmarked Sobuj kept his cool to slot home with a neat left footed placing shot to ignite wild celebrations throughout the stadium.
Source: 11sag2010.com
