No hope left for Bangladesh’s boys to emerge as group champions when they suffered a huge setback after going down to Afghanistan in the AFC Under-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers on Sunday.
Held at the Prince Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the youngsters of Bangladesh despite taking lead twice suffered the 3-2 defeat to Afghanistan in their second last Group B match.
Bangladesh, who started the competition with solitary goal defat at the hands of Cambodia, bounced back strongly with defeating Philippines by 1-0 and just demolishing the Macao by 7-0 to raise hope to be the Group runners up.
But the second defeat in four matches humbled Bangladesh to third position in the five-team table with six points, equal with hosts Cambodia who are in the second position by virtue of a better goal difference. Afghanistan lead the table with 12 points from four matches.
Bangladesh, despite trailing by three points, had every opportunity to catch the leaders Afghanistan, if they could win the match.
Bangladesh made an impressive start by taking lead with Mithu Chowdhury struck in the very sixth minute. But Afghan forward levelled it just on the half an hour mark.
Bangladesh restored the lead in the stoppage time of the opening 45 minutes through Morshed Ali. But this time also Bangladesh failed to keep up the momentum in the second half and conceded two more goals on 64th and 70th minute with Afghans’ substitutes Milad Noori and Arash Ahmedi scored a piece. Bangladesh could not make come back in the second half and had to leave the ground with their second defeat in four matches.
Meanwhile, ten group champions and five best runners team will advance to the second round of the AFC Under-17 Asian Cup 2025.
