Football
BFF U-18 Football: Bashundhara Kings earn 4-2 victory over Police FC
Coming from behind, Bashundhara Kings earned a 4-2 goals victory over Bangladesh Police FC in the BFF U-18 Football League at the Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club ground Monday afternoon.
The match was locked in 1-1 goals in the first half.
Akbar put Police team ahead in the 11th minute (1-0) while Sabbir levelled the margin for the Kings in the 36th minute from a penalty (1-1).
Ramzan and Rafiqul scored two more goals for the Kings in span of just minute in the 52nd and 57th minutes (3-1).
Tasnim pulled the Police margin one back in the 90th minute (3-2) while Raju sealed the fate of the match scoring one more goal for the Kings (4-2) in the stoppage time of the match (90+1 minute)
In the BFF U-16 Football League, Agrani Bank SC played 1-1 draw with Uttara Football Club here on Monday.
Read: 1st Div Football: East End earn 2-0 win over Dilkusha SC
Limon scored for Uttara FC in the first half while Sajjad netted for the bankers team in the 2nd half.
The day's other U-16 league match between NoFel SC and Wari Club also ended in 1-1 draw.
Sifar scored for Wari Club in the first half while Mondal netted for NoFel SC in the 2nd half.
FIFA Int'l Friendly: Bangladesh to play hosts Nepal on Tuesday.
Bangladesh National Men's Football team will play hosts Nepal national team in their 2nd and last FIFA International Friendly match on Tuesday.
The match will kick off at 5:45 pm Bangladesh time at the Dashrath Rangasala (Stadium) in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu.
The Tigers will play their Himalayan rivals with a sweet memory of beating Cambodian national team by 1-0 goal in their first FIFA International Friendly in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh last Thursday.
It will be a prestige battle for Bangladesh men's football team following the triumphant victory of Bangladesh women's football team in the seven-nation SAFF Women's Championship in Kathmandu last week.
Read: FIFA Int'l Friendly: Bangladesh Football team makes first practice in Kathmandu
Ahead of Tuesday's match, Bangladesh team held a gym and swimming session at the team hotel Monday morning from 11.30 am to 12:30 pm.
Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuyan and Spanish Head Javier Cabrera addressed a pre-match press conference at 3 pm before their final practice session Monday afternoon from 4:30;pm to 6 pm at Army Sports ground in Kathmandu.
Sr Div Football: East End Club beat Basabo Torun Sangha 1-0
East End Club earned a 1-0 victory over Basabo Torun Sangha in the Bashundhara Group Metropolis Senior Division Football League at the Kamalapur Stadium here on Sunday.After a barren first half, Rubel Rana scored the match-winning goal for the old horse East End Club in the 88th minute.In the day's other Senior Division League matches, PWD Sporting Club drew goalless with Bangladesh Boys Club while Mohakhali Ekadosh shared points with Mugda Samaj Kallayan & Krira Sangsad, also in goalless affairs. Khairul Islam of Mohakhali team got direct red card in the match. In the BFF U-18 Football League, Chittagong Abahani Ltd played to a 1-1 draw with Sheikh Russel KC in the day's lone match at the Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club ground Sunday afternoon.Abdur Rahman put Abahani ahead in the 28th minute while Irfan Khan levelled the margin for Sheikh Russel KC in the stoppage time of the match (90+3 minute) In the BFF U-16 Football league, Azampur Football Club crushed old horse Dhaka Wanderers Club by 7-1 goals on Sunday.Alif and Shayan scored two goals each, Sakib, Sanaton and Rawnak scored one each for the winners while Raju netted the lone goal for the losers.
Argentina National Football Team close to breaking longest unbeaten record
Argentina's three-year winning streak indicates that Lionel Scaloni's team has played with discipline. Argentina's national football team has won two major titles during this time, the Copa America 2021 and 2022 Finalissima, and has gone undefeated in 34 games. They are currently all set to smash Italy's footballing record for longest undefeated streak.
Argentina's performance from the 2019 Copa America until the present
Argentina's national football team’s unbeaten run in international football started back on July 6th, 2019 Copa America when they beat Chile 2-1 to finish third in the tournament. The Argentina senior men’s team’s last defeat was against arch-rival Brazil in the first semifinal match of the 2019 South American Football Championship. The Selecao overcame the Albiceleste by 2-0 to seal a place in the final.
Read: Saudi women footballers to play first international match at home
Since losing to Brazil in a semifinal contest of the 46th edition of the Copa America, the Argentine national side has remained unbeaten in 34 matches over the last three years. During this period, Argentina won the 2021 Copa America, where they beat the host Brazil in the final by 1-0. They only dropped points against Chile in the first match of the group stage but later went on to win six matches to seal the championship for the first time in 28 years.
On June 1 this year, Argentina's team also registered a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Italy in a one-off Finalissima contest. In the South American World Cup 2022 Qualifier, Argentina managed to win 11 matches and drew 6 in 17. Besides, they have won five and drawn two in international friendly contests. The Albiceleste’s latest victory came against Honduras (3-0) at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on September 23.
How many victories would it take for Argentina to surpass Italy's longest unbeaten streak?
Eight teams have managed to remain undefeated in 30 or more matches in international football. Among them, Italy's and Argentina's national sides have managed to do it twice in their football history.
Read: Argentina and Brazil's international football schedules for September 2022
The Italian national side recently set a new record by remaining unbeaten in 37 matches from October 2018 to October 2021. It all started when the Azzurri held a 1-1 draw against the Ukrainian national team at home on October 10, 2018.
After remaining undefeated for almost three years, the Italian side eventually suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Spanish national team in a semifinal match of the 2020–2021 UEFA Nations League. Before that, Italy managed to win UEFA EURO 2020 and didn’t lose a game for 37 games to set up a new world record.
Italy's record for the longest unbeaten streak is now in jeopardy, as Argentina is only three matches away from matching it. If Argentina's national men’s football team remains unbeaten in the next four matches, they will set a new record. The Albiceleste’s upcoming football fixtures are comparatively easier in quest for breaking the record.
Argentina’s next five international fixtures
Date: September 28 | Opposition: Jamaica | Start Time: 6 a.m. (BDT)
Date: November 16 | Opposition: United Arab Emirates | Start Time: TBD
Date: November 22 | Opposition: Saudi Arabia | Start Time: 4 p.m. (BDT)
Date: November 27 | Opposition: Mexico | Start Time: 1 a.m. (BDT)
Date: December 1 | Opposition: Poland | Start Time: 1 a.m. (BDT)
Apart from Argentina and Italy, the teams that have more than 30 undefeated winning streaks are Brazil, France, Spain, and Algeria. Here is the list of the longest unbeaten records (at least 30 matches).
The top eight longest unbeaten streaks in football history (as on September 23, 2022)
Team
Games Unbeaten (Win-Draw)
Run Started
Run Ended
Italy
37 (30-7)
10/10/2018
06/10/2021
Algeria
35 (26-9)
18/11/2018
16/01/2022
Spain
35 (32-3)
07/02/2007
24/06/2009
Brazil
35 (28-7)
16/12/1993
21/01/1996
Argentina*
34 (25-9)
02/07/2019
Continue
Argentina
31 (21-10)
20/02/1991
15/08/1993
France
30 (20-8)
16/02/1994
26/06/1996
Italy
30 (24-6)
24/11/1935
12/11/1939
Source:https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/argentina-unbeaten-run-italy-world-record-streak-messi/bmcsegbknr7e0comxmoojrtf
Read: Will be “honoured” to play for Bangladesh football team: Hamza Choudhury
Bottom Line
Argentina's style of play has proven to be quite successful under head coach Lionel Scaloni. The team is more cohesive than it was a few years ago. Everyone on the team is aware of their responsibilities, and the players communicate well with one another. Overall, the Argentine national football team appears to have a tendency to not lose games and a belief that they will win games regularly. Therefore, the Albiceleste senior side is getting closer to breaking Italy's longest undefeated streak during the Qatar World Cup 2022 since their next five international matches feature fairly weaker opponents.
Saudi women footballers to play first international match at home
The Saudi Arabian women’s football team, launched in October 2021, will play their first game on home soil at the Prince Sultan Stadium in Abha, the capital of Asir. The hosts will face Bhutan on September 24 and 28. These are the third and fourth matches to be played by the Green Falcons. According to the Khaleej Times, they won their opening games 2-0 against Seychelles and Maldives.
Saudi Arabia wants to encourage the participation of women in sports at all levels as part of its Vision 2030. Women’s football is one of the seven main strategic priorities for the Saudi Arabian Football Federation because it is the most popular sport in the country.
Read: Three footballers of SAFF Women's Champions team get compensation
"Win, lose or draw, these home matches are a historic moment in the transformative journey that women's football is on in Saudi Arabia. Following an unbeaten opening two games against Seychelles and the Maldives." "This is a landmark moment for the women's game and is a first opportunity to play on home turf and in front of friends and family." Saudi Arabia's Football Federation President Yasser Al Misehal told Khaleej Times.
"As well as developing and improving on-pitch, the team's impact is being felt by the number of women and girls throughout the country, who are being inspired to play and follow football." He also added.
The Saudi Arabian women’s football team's German head coach, Monika Staab, said: "After the historic opening matches for our country's women's team, these fixtures give our players the chance to play on their home soil for the first time. As a team, we continue to improve and get better, while as a sport, we're making huge progress at all levels and are proudly making history together. "
Read: Neymar Jr. on the verge of breaking Pele’s goalscoring record
Three footballers of SAFF Women's Champions team get compensation
Mahfuza Akhter Kiron, Chairman of the BFF Women's Football committee and FIFA Council member, today (Saturday) compensated the three footballers of the SAFF Women's Champions team who lost money on their arrival from Kathmandu to Dhaka on Thursday.
Read: Saudi women footballers to play first international match at home
After getting a grand reception at the airport and joining the parade in the open-deck double-decker bus from the airport to the BFF office in Motijheel, three Bangladeshi footballers—Krishna Rani Sarkar, Shamsun Nahar Sr., and Sanjida Akhter—found their money stolen from their luggage.
Their bags were found unlocked and some of their dollars missing. Krishna lost US dollars 900 and cash Tk 50,000, which included a part of Sanjinda, while Shamsunahar lost 400 US dollars, who saved it for buying an iPhone and others.
Read: FIFA Int'l Friendly: Bangladesh Football team makes first practice in Kathmandu
It was not clear where the money was lost. Mahfuza Akhter Kiron reimbursed the players with money from her personal fund, not from the BFF fund. BFF President Kazi Salahuddin disclosed this to the media after a meeting of the professional league committee on Saturday. It was reported that Sanjida got an iPhone. The three players also received an additional TK 50,000 each.
FIFA Int'l Friendly: Bangladesh Football team makes first practice in Kathmandu
Bangladesh National Men's Football team, now in Nepal to play a FIIFA International Friendly against hosts team, made their first practice session at the Army ground in Kathmandu Saturday afternoon.Bangladesh team will fly for Nepal to play the Himalayan nation in the 2nd FIFA International Friendly on September 27 in Kathmandu.Bangladesh national football team reached Nepal Friday (Sept 23) afternoon with a sweet memory of the beating Cambodian national team by 1-0 goal in their first FIFA International Friendly in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh on Thursday.Touring Bangladesh team also made gym and swimming session at the team hotel Saturday morning. Local weather of Kathmandu is presently cloudy with occasional rains.Bangladesh team will make their practices tomorrow (Sunday) from 4 pm to 6 pm local time.
BFF-18 Football League: Dhaka Abahani beat Rahmatganj MFS by 2-0 goal
Dhaka Abahani Ltd earned a 2-0 goal victory over Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society in the BFF U-18 Football League at the Govt. Physical Education College ground here on Saturday.
Sayeed put the Abahani Youth team ahead in the 18th minute while Mashrafi sealed the fate of the match scoring one more goal in the 59th minute.
In the BFF U-16 Football league, Kawran Bazar Pragoti Sangha outplayed Farashganj SC by 6-0 goals here on Saturday.
Arif and Aslam scored two goals each while Saifur netted one for the winners.
Abu Sayeed of Farashganj SC scored a suicidal goal enabling Pragoti Sangha to earn a comfortable 6-0 goal victory.
In the day's other U-16 Football match, Fotis Football Club beat Gopalganj Sporting Club by 2-0 goal. Monirul scored first in the stoppage time of the first half (45+1 minute) while Jumo scored the 2nd goal in the stoppage time of the match (90+3 minute) for the winners.
In the Bashundhara Group 2nd Division Football League, Saif Sporting Club Youth team defeated Kingstar Sporting Club by 2-0 goal with Nazmul Islam Khokon scoring both the goals.
In the day's other 2nd Division League, Gouripur Sporting Club beat Bikrampur Kings by a solitary goal scored by Al Amin Howladar in the 64th minute.
Neymar Jr. on the verge of breaking Pele’s goalscoring record
It’s been more than fifty years since ‘The Black Pearl’ Pele has held the scoring record for Brazil's national football team with 77 goals. Many prolific scorers have retired over the last fifty years, but none of them managed to get even close to Pele’s record. But the Selecao’s present sensation, Neymar Jr., is getting inching closer to breaking the record. He is only 3 goals shy of equaling Pele’s record of most international goals for the Brazil national football team.
Top 10 goal scorers for Brazil's national football team
Pele, a three-time World Cup winner and arguably the first global football superstar, has held the record for most goals scored for Brazil for nearly six decades. He has 77 goals in 92 international caps for Brazil's senior side, with a sensational 0.84 average. Therefore, breaking Pele’s record will surely be a great achievement for Neymar Jr., who is only four goals away from setting a new record. Neymar has scored 74 goals in 120 international matches for Brazil's national side since making his debut in the year 2010. Neymar's 0.61 goal average is not as high as Pele's, but it is still remarkable when compared to the stats of current players.
Read: Army announces Tk 1 crore reward for SAFF women champions
Three of the greatest Brazilian footballers, Ronaldo, Romario, and Zico, are in the third, fourth, and fifth spots, with 62, 56, and 48 goals, respectively. Here are the top ten goal scorers for Brazil's national football team.
Top 10 goal scorers for Brazil's national football team
Player
Caps
Goals
Average
Pele
92
77
0.84
Neymar Jr
120
74
0.61
Ronaldo
98
62
0.63
Romario
70
56
0.79
Zico
71
48
0.68
Bebeto
75
39
0.52
Rivaldo
74
35
0.47
Jairzinho
81
33
0.41
Ronaldinho
97
33
0.34
Ademir
39
32
0.82
Tostao
54
32
0.59
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil_national_football_team#Top_goalscorers
Brazil's national team’s upcoming international fixtures
The Brazil national football team will play at least one more friendly match prior to the Qatar World Cup 2022. The Selecao will play Tunisia in a scheduled international friendly on Wednesday (September 28). If Neymar Jr. scores a hat trick against Tunisia, he will shatter the record. If not, he will get a chance to break Pele's record at the forthcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup group stage.
Read: 14 important international football fixtures to watch before FIFA World Cup 2022
Brazil’s Group Phase fixture of the World Cup 2022
Date: November 25 | Match: Brazil vs Serbia | Time: 1 a.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time)
Date: November 28 | Match: Brazil vs Switzerland | Time: 10 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time)
Date: December 3 | Match: Cameron vs Brazil | Time: 1 a.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time)
Bottom Line
Records are made to be broken, and Neymar Jr. is moving closer to breaking Pele's record for the most goals scored for Brazil. The current Brazilian superstar is in excellent shape and might break the record during the FIFA World Cup this year.
Read: Will be “honoured” to play for Bangladesh football team: Hamza Choudhury
Army announces Tk 1 crore reward for SAFF women champions
Bangladesh Army has announced a reward of BDT 1 crore for the Bangladesh women's football team who recently won the 2022 SAFF Championship in Nepal. The Army made the announcement on Friday.
Bangladesh women's football team became the undefeated champion in the 2022 SAFF Championship. They scored a total of 23 goals in this premier football tournament in South Asia, while they conceded only one goal.
Bangladesh won the title by defeating the hosts Nepal 1-3 at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.
Read: Sabina wants to keep winning trophies playing entertaining football
After returning home, the Bangladesh team was given a royal welcome. They were taken to the Bangladesh Football Federation from the airport in an open-deck bus. Along the way to the federation headquarters, thousands of supporters congratulated the team on their first SAFF title win. No other Bangladeshi team has been given such a reception before.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has announced a reward of BDT 50 lakh for them while two officials of the Bangladesh Football Federation have announced a total reward of BDT 1 crore as well.
Read: SAFF women champs: Skipper Sabina given hero's welcome on return to Satkhira