Bangladesh team made a frustrating start in the 2nd round opening Group I match of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers after suffering their ever-worse 0-7 goals defeat against their much stronger opponent Australia in Melbourne on Thursday evening (Nov 16).
The World Cup playing Australia, ranked 27th, clearly dominated the first half by 4-0 over the 183rd ranked Bangladesh in a one- sided match at the 30,000 capacity floodlight Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, also known as AAMI Park.
This was the 3rd straight and the worst defeat for Bangladesh against regular World Cup playing Australia since their first meeting in 2015 in the qualification round of FIFA World Cup.
Bangladesh suffered their biggest defeat losing to South Korea by 9-0 goals in 1979.
Bangladesh, under the current captain Jamal Bhuyan, suffered 0-5 goals defeat in their away match in Perth and conceded 0-4 goals defeat in home match in Dhaka in 2015.
In the day' s one sided affairs, Bangladesh were always found busy to resist opponent attacks one after another. Even, they were failed to make any single attempt towards the Australian, which made at-least 14 attempts to the Bangladesh net
In the 2nd round opener of the AFC World Cup Qualifiers 2026 on Thursday,
defender Harry Souttar opened the floodgate for Australia in the very 4th minute of the match by a good header, off a Craig Godwin set piece (1-0).
Forward Brandon Borrello doubled the Australian margin in the 20th minute by tapping the ball home from six- yard box, off a sudden cut by Connor Metcalfe, beating Bangladesh defender (2-0).
Striker Mitchell Duke scored the 3rd goal for Socceroos in the 37th minute with a brilliant header, utilising a neat cross from Connor Metcalfe (3-0).
Duke scored his 2nd and the 4th goal for Australia just three minutes later (40th minute) by a ground placing shot (4-0).
Australian substitute forward Jamie Maclaren, who appeared in the field at half time, scored three goals in a row to make a hattrick.
Jamie scored the 5th goal in the 49th minute from a counter attack, off a Jordi Bos pass, apparently from an off side position (5-0).
Jamie Maclaren further widened the Australian margin in the 70th minute, tapping the ball home, getting a loose ball from Bangladesh keeper Mitul Marma (6-0).
Jamie Maclaren sealed the fate of the match scoring his 3rd and the 7th goal for Australia in the 84th minute, also featured a hattrick, also tap-in ball home, capitalizing on a low cross of Lewis Miller (7-0).
In the 88th minite, Bangladesh custodian Mitul Marma saved from another awkward situation saving a penalty, diving low to his right to foil Mass Luongo's attempt.
Australia got the penalty when Bangladesh substitute defender Shakil Hossain fouled onrushing Aiden O' Neill from behind in the danger zone.
Both the teams made five chances in their day's line up, where hosts Australia dominated the match all through beating their poor opponents in all departments.
Soon after returning from Australia, Bangladesh team will play their home match of the World Cup Asian Qualifiers against Lebanon on November 21 at 5:45 pm Bangladesh time at Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka.
However, Bangladesh will play their remaining four Group I matches next year.
Bangladesh will play their home against Palestine on March 21, away match with Palestine on March 26, home match against Australia on June 6 and away match with Lebanon on June 11.
Earlier, Bangladesh earned the rights to play in the six-match home and away basis Group I matches of the FIFA World Cup's Asian qualifiers with Australia, Lebanon and Palestine eliminating the Maldives in the round 1 match last month.