Hosts Bangladesh beat the Maldives by 2-1 goals in the second and last match to level the two-match Bashundhara Group FIFA Tier-1 International Friendly series 1-1 at the floodlight Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka on Saturday evening. Bangladesh, which made a frustrating start in the two-match series losing to the Maldives by a 0-1 goal at the same venue last Wednesday, today took the field in a must-win situation to revive their prestige and save the series, and finally they came out successful by an injury-time goal by substitute booter Papon Singh. FIFA Int'l Friendly: Bangladesh make frustrating start losing to Maldives by 0-1 goal The Maldives team, which was deprived of playing any international or major football in the last year, surprisingly forced hosts Bangladesh to concede a 0-1 defeat in the first match last Wednesday to take sweet revenge for their 1-2 goal defeat against Bangladesh at the same venue in October last year. This was the 2nd win for Bangladesh playing eight international matches this year after beating Bhutan and the 3rd win against the Maldives in their 5th meeting since 2023. Bangladesh outplayed the Maldives by 3-1 goals in the SAFF Championship in 2023 and beat the Maldives by 2-1 goals in Dhaka in the World Cup Qualifiers in 2023. Bangladesh played a 1-1 draw with the Maldives in Male in the World Cup Qualifiers in 2023, apart from conceding a 0-1 defeat against them in the last match here on Wednesday. In the day's match, midfielder Ali Fasir, who scored the match-winner for the Maldives against Bangladesh in the first match last Wednesday, again put his team ahead in the 23rd minute by a ground-placed shot, utilising a blunder mistake of hosts captain and defender Topu Barman silencing the local crowd (1-0). Medio Mojibor Rahman Jony levelled the margin for Bangladesh in the 43rd minute with a brilliant shot from the top of the box, dodging past two opponent defenders amid a huge celebration from home fans (1-1). Super sub midfielder Papon Singh scored the much-awaited match-winning goal for Bangladesh in the 4th minute of the added time (90+4 minute) by a straight shot from the danger zone, off a ready-made pass from Shahriar Emon, amid huge satisfaction from the home crowd (2-1). In the day's match, the Maldives team maintained their supremacy till the 42nd minute, featuring a deserving 1-0 lead beating off coloured Bangladesh, but Bangladesh regained their rhythm, scoring an equaliser in the 43rd minute. Earlier in the 40th minute, the Maldives custodian brilliantly saved an attempt by Foysal Ahmed Fahim, while Bangladesh goalkeeper Mitul Marma also saved his castle nicely, foiling a good header by Ali Fasir in a one-to-one situation in the 52nd minute.With the day's feat, the Spanish head coach of Bangladesh team Javier Cabrera completed his initial term/ contract (till December 2024) successfully, and the Bangladesh national team also completed this year's engagement with a win.

Bangladesh National Men's Football team beat Cambodian national team by 1-0 goal in their first match of the two-match FIFA International Friendly at Cambodian capital Phnom Penh on Thursday.Midfielder Rakib Hossain scored the match-winning goal for Bangladesh in the 23rd minute of the first half. With the day's feat, Bangladesh team maintained their unAbeaten record against Cambodia playing five matches. In previous four matches, Bangladesh won on three occasions and the remaining matches ended in draw.Bangladesh team will fly for Nepal to play Himalayan nation Nepal in the 2nd FIFA International Friendly on September 27 in Kathmandu.It was the first victory for the Spanish Head Coach of Bangladesh national football team Javier Fernandes Cabrera, under whom Bangladesh national side failed to win any match.In the day's match, Bangladesh national men's team played the match under huge pressure following the victory of the National Women's team in Kathmandu. Bangladesh women's clinched the first ever SAFF Women's crown with all win record. In their last meeting, Bangladesh beat Cambodia by 1-0 goal in 2019.Bangladesh team first eleven: Anisur Rahman, Rahmat Mia, Tutul Hossain Badsha, Tariq Kazi, Bishwanath Ghosh, Jamal Bhuyan, Biplo Ahmed, Matin Miah, Rakib Hossain, Atiqur Rahman Fahad and Sumon Reza. 

Bangladesh National  Football team played out a goalless draw with visiting Mongolia in the FIFA Tier -1 International Friendly Football match at the Sylhet District Stadium on Tuesday. Bangladesh and Mongolia  previously drew 2-2 in their last meeting 21 years ago. Earlier, touring Bangladesh national side conceded  a 0-2 goals defeat against the hosts Maldives in their first FIFA Int'l Friendly in Male on March 24. In the day's match in front of a good number of home crowd, Bangladesh dominated the match all through over their upper ranked rivals Mongolia but failed to the open the goal mouth despite of repeated attempts. Read:CONMEBOL World Cup 2022 Qualifiers: Peru, Colombia, Chile vying for playoff spot Mongolia, which played defensive football againsr the hosts, came out successful after making a goalless draw against Bangladesh. A good shot of Bangladesh forward Sumon Reza returned to play hitting cross bar in the 41st minute while  another good  attempt of Jamal Bhuiyan was brilliantly saved by Mongolian custodian at the  cost of a corner in the 72nd minute After the match, newly appointed Spanish Head Coach Jevier Fernandez Cabrera groomed Bangladesh team failed to earn any win playing two international matches.