Bangladesh national football team boost up their morale for the ensuing AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers against Singapore, beating Bhutan by 2-0 in a FIFA Tier-1 International friendly match at the renovated National Stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday evening.
International football returned to the freshly renovated country's premier sports venue — the National Stadium in Dhaka — after about 55 months through this day's match.
The last international football match at the National Stadium, Dhaka, was between Bangladesh and Nepal on 17 November 2020, although domestic football matches were played until August 2021.
In the day's match, Bangladesh team, featuring foreign players of Bangladeshi origin, including English Premier League playing defensive midfielder Hamza Chowdhury, played against Bhutan, which fielded two Bhutanese-origin Australian players.
Celebrated defensive midfielder Hamza Dewan Chowdhury put Bangladesh ahead in the very 6th minute of his second match for Bangladesh, first on home soil, with a brilliant header from a goalmouth melee, utilising a corner kick taken by captain Jamal Bhuyan (1-0).
Hamza made his debut for the Bangladesh national team on foreign soil in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers against hosts India, which ended in a goalless draw on 25 March in the Indian city of Siliguri.
Another midfielder, Sohel Rana, sealed the fate of the match by scoring Bangladesh’s second goal in the 49th minute with a left-footed shot from long distance that kissed the far corner of the Bhutanese net (2-0).
Four minutes later, Rakib Hossain of Bangladesh missed a good chance, sending the ball outside despite beating the opponent's goalkeeper.
In added time, Bangladesh goalkeeper Mitul Marma made a brilliant save from the goalline, foiling a good attempt by Bhutan.
Bangladesh dominated the match throughout against Bhutan, especially in the first half, where Bhutan appeared off colour.
Bangladesh defender Saad Uddin left the field with an injury later in the match, forcing Bangladesh to play with ten players, as their substitution quota was exhausted earlier.
Fahamedul Islam, who plays in the Italian league, made his debut for Bangladesh in this match and showcased his brilliance in the attacking zone alongside the match’s main attraction, Hamza Chowdhury.
Bangladesh made six changes to their line-up, including Morsalin Ahmed, Mohammad Ibrahim, Mohammad Ridoy, Foysal Ahmed Fahim, debutant Al Amin, and Shakil Ahad Topu, resting Hamza Chowdhury, Shah Quazem Kirmanee, and Jamal Bhuyan during the break, and Tajuddin, Fahamedul Islam, and Rakib Hossain in the second half.
Both Bangladesh and Bhutan played this match as part of their preparations for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, scheduled for 10 June.
In the AFC Cup Qualifiers, Bangladesh will face Singapore at the National Stadium in Dhaka, while Bhutan will play their away match against Brunei, both on 10 June.
Earlier last year, Bangladesh and Bhutan played two friendly matches in Thimphu, resulting in a win for each team.
The two teams have faced each other 16 times, with Bangladesh enjoying the upper hand, winning 12 matches, Bhutan winning 2, and 2 matches ending in a draw.
Bangladesh’s starting eleven: Mitul Marma, Topu Barman, Saad Uddin, Tariq Raihan Kazi, Tajuddin, Sohel Rana, Hamza Chowdhury, Jamal Bhuyan, Quazem Shah, Fahamedul Islam, and Rakib Hossain.