football
Women's Football: Bangladesh too hot to handle for Singapore
Bangladesh Women's team took 1-0 lead in the two-match FIFA Tier-1 Women's International Friendly Football Series outplaying Singapore by 3-0 goals in the first match at the Kamalapur Stadium here on Friday ( Dec 1).
Bangladesh team dominated the first half by 2-0 goals.
With the day's well-merited victory, Bangladeshi women's not only dominated the series but also took a sweet revenge of their 0-3 goals defeat in a Development Tournament in Singapore six year ago.
This was the first victory for Bangladesh national women's team in the international football within about 14 months after winning their historic title in the SAFF Championship held in Kathmandu in September 2022.
The 2nd and last match between 130th ranked Singapore and 142nd ranked Bangladesh will be held at the same venue on Monday (December 4)
In the day's match match, occasional striker Tohura Khatun struck twice for Bangladesh in the 16th and 60th minutes after defender Afeida Khandakar put the home team ahead in the very 3rd minute of the match.
Defender Afeida Khandakar put Bangladesh ahead in the 3rd minute by a header kissed that entered the opponent net touching the cross bar (1-0).
Tohura Khatun doubled the margin in the 16th minute, capitalizing on a ready made pass of Maria Manda after beating two opponent defenders (2-0)
Tohura scored her 2nd and 3rd goal for Bangladesh in the 60th minute by a brilliant placing shot over opposition goalie after receiving a long pass from Masura Parvin (3-0).
Bangladesh earned the deserving victory beating their superior opponent in most of the period.
Women's Int'l Football: Bangladesh to play Singapore on Friday
The Bangladesh Women's Team will play the touring Singapore team in the first match of the two-match FIFA Tier-1 Women's International Friendly Football Match 2023 at the Kamalapur Stadium in Dhaka on Friday.
The second and last match between 130th-ranked Singapore and 142nd-ranked Bangladesh will be held at the same venue on Monday (December 4).
Asian Women's Football: Bangladesh finish last in Group D after 1-1 draw with Nepal
In the lone previous meeting, Singapore beat Bangladesh women by 3-0 in a development tournament in Singapore six years ago.
In a pre-match press conference at BFF House on Wednesday, Bangladesh coach Saiful Bari Titu said, "It will be a good opportunity for us to play Singapore after the cancellation of a two-match series against Lebanon last October. The present Singapore team is comparatively unknown to us; we now focus on our first on Friday."
4 women, nat’l women's football team receive Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib Padak-2023
Bangladesh captain Sabina Khatun said, "We lost against Singapore six years ago; now our team is more balanced than the previous squad with some improvements. I think our fans will enjoy two challenging matches, and our target is to prove our worth through recent improvements."
Women's Football: Jamalpur beat Farashganj 2-0
AFC Cup: Bashundhara Kings need just a draw against Odisha FC to qualify for zonal semis
Bangladesh Premier League(BPL)Football champions Bashundhara Kings need just a point against Odisha FC of India in the remaining Group D match to qualify for the AFC Cup Inter Zone play-off semifinals.
The Kings will play their remaining Group D match, an away encounter, with Odisha FC of India on December 11 at 8 pm at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar to assure their first-ever AFC Cup inter zone play-off semifinal.
Odisha FC made the Bashundhara Kings task easier on Monday night eliminating Indian giant and hosts Kolkata Mohun Bagan Club outplaying them by 5-2 goals at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata in a Group D match.
AFC Cup Football: Bashundhara Kings close to inter-zone play-off semifinals, beat Maziya SRC
After the 5th round of Group D, Bashundhara Kings topped the list securing ten points, Odisha FC followed the Kings collecting nine points, Kolkata Mohun Bagan Club in the 3rd slot with seven points while Maziya S&RC in the bottom with three points.
Kolkata Mohun Bagan Club were eliminated from the AFC Cup race with one match to spare against Maziya S&RC on December 11 at 4 pm in Male as they went behind the Kings in head to head counting.
Earlier on Monday, Bangladesh champions Kings, coming from behind, smartly entered the AFC Cup race beating the Maldives champions Maziya Sports & Recreation Club by 2-1 goals in the last ten minutes thriller at their home ground --Bashundhara Kings Arena-- Monday evening.
AFC Cup: Bashundhara Kings to play Maziya SRC on Monday aiming to stay top
This was the 3rd time that Bashundhara Kings won the AFC Cup match, coming from behind.
Bashundhara Kings, which was placed in four-team Group D of the AFC Cup with Odisha FC and Mohun Bagan Club of India, and Maziya SRC of the Maldives, already played five matches.
Bashundhara Kings made a frustrating start with 1-3 goals defeat against Maziya SRC in away match, bounced back in the race beating Odisha FC by 3-2 goals in home match, played 2-2 draw with Kolkata Mohun Bagan in away match in Odisha and made a history with their first- ever win against Kolkata Mohun Bagan by 2-1 goals in home match, apart from Monday's 2-1 victory over Maziya S&RC.
Each of the four Group D teams of the AFC Cup 2023-24, a 2nd-Tier Asian Continental Club Football Competition after AFC Champions League, are playing each other in six home-and-away round-robin format.
Later, the table toppers will progress to the AFC Cup's next stage--the inter-zone play-off semi-finals.
AFC Cup Football: Bashundhara Kings close to inter-zone play-off semifinals, beat Maziya SRC
Coming from behind again, Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) champions Bashundhra Kings came close to the AFC Cup Inter Zone play-off semifinals, beating the Maldives champions Maziya Sports and Recreation Club by 2-1 goals in a vital Group D match at the floodlight Bashundhara Kings Arena in the capital on Monday evening.
It was the fourth time that Bashundhara Kings bounced back in the match, coming from behind.
Also read: AFC Cup: Bashundhara Kings to play Maziya SRC on Monday aiming to stay top
With the day's well merited victory, the Kings not only maintained their top slot in Group D intact, but also took sweet revenge of their 1-3 goals defeat against Maziya SRC in a away match in Male last month.
Moreover, the Bashundhara Kings also maintained their unbeaten record in the home ground -- Bashundhara Kings Arena -- in all the local and international football.
After the day's match, Bashundhara Kings topped the Group D list, securing ten points from five matches with three winnings, a draw and a defeat. Kolkata Mohun Bagan Club followed the leaders with seven points from four matches, while Maziya SRC are in the bottom with three points from five matches.
Also read: AFC Cup Football: Bashundhara Kings taste first-ever victory over Mohun Bagan
Bashundhara Kings played the day's vital match without their regular captain, cum most reliable Brazilian forward Robson Robinho and Ivorian booter Didier Brossou for injuries.
Midfielder Regan Obeng put Maziya SRC ahead in the 10th minute by an straight shot from a vantage position of danger zone, utilizing a misunderstanding between Kings defender Tariq Kazi and custodian Srabon (1-0). This was the quickest goal conceded by the Kings in the international match.
When the match was almost heading for the Kings defeat, then Medio Asror Gafurov levelled the margin for the Kings in the 80th minute by a low header from goal mouth melee, off a corner kick (1-1).
Brazilian Midfielder Miguel Figueira scored the match-winning goal for the Kings in the 88th minute by a brilliant shot from about 30 yards, outside from the danger zone, off a Shekh Morsalin cross, that kissed the Maziya net over the custodian (2-1).
Earlier, forward Mfon Sunday Udoh spoiled the most easiest opportunity in the 42nd minute, as he missed two repeated chances – one after another.
Also read: Independence Cup Football: Holders Bashundhara Kings manage 1-0 victory over Bangladesh Navy
Forwards Shekh Morsalin and Rafiqul Islam entered the field in the 69th minute, replacing Rakib Hossain, and Sheikh Morsalin got an golden opportunity in the 77th minute, but his weak shot from close was saved by the opponent goalkeeper.
Bashundhara Kings, which were placed in the four-team Group D of the AFC Cup with Odisha FC and Mohun Bagan Club of India, and Maziya SRC of the Maldives, already played five matches.
Bangladesh champions Bashundhara Kings, which made a frustrating with 1-3 goals defeat against Maziya SRC, smartly bounced back in the race, beating Odisha FC by 3-2 goals in their home match in Dhaka.
The Kings played a 2-2 draw with Indian giant Mohun Bagan Club in their away match in Odisha last month and made a history with their first- ever victory against Kolkata Mohun Bagan Club, beating them by 2-1 goals in the home match in Dhaka this month, apart from day's victory.
The Kings will play their next match, an away match, with Odisha FC of India on December 11 at 8 pm Bangladesh time at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, and an win will confirm their first ever AFC Cup inter-zone play-off semifinal berth.
Each of the four Group D teams of the AFC Cup 2023-24, a 2nd-Tier Asian Continental Club Football Competition after the AFC Champions League, are playing each other in six home-and-away round-robin format.
Later, the table toppers will progress to the AFC Cup inter-zone play-off semi-finals.
AFC Cup: Bashundhara Kings to play Maziya SRC on Monday aiming to stay top
Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) champions Bashundhara Kings are set to play the Maldivian champions Maziya Sports & Recreation Club in a vital Group D match of the AFC Cup Football here on Monday, in a hope to maintain their top slot in the group.
The vital match between Bangladesh and the Maldives giants will kick off at 6 pm Bangladesh time on Monday (Nov 27) at the floodlight Bashundhara Kings Arena in the capital.
Two Indian Clubs --Kolkata Mohun Bagan Super Giants will play Odisha FC -- also on Monday at 8: pm at the Salt Lake Stadium In Kolkata.
After the four Group D matches, Bashundhara Kings and Kolkata Mohun Bagan Club lead the group table jointly securing seven points each while Maziya SRC are in the bottom with three points.
Bashundhara Kings, which made a frustrating start in the four-team Group D with a shocking 1-3 goals defeat against weaker Maziya SRC in group opener in Male, had a good opportunity to take sweet revenge of their defeat as well as to keep their top slot intact in the group.
Ahead of the Monday' s key match, Maziya SRC and Bashundhara Kings made their final practice sessions Sunday afternoon and evening respectively after addressing the official press conference at the same venue in the afternoon.Addressing the press conference, Head Coach of Bashundhara Kings Oscar Bruzon said his team in seriously looking for a win, despite of some injuries.
AFC Cup Football: Maziya SRC of Maldives to play Bashundhara Kings on Monday
The Maldives champions Maziya Sports and Recreation Club arrived in Dhaka on Friday to play Bangladesh champions Bashundhara Kings in their Group D away match of the AFC Cup Football.
The vital match between Bangladesh and the Maldives giants will kick off at 6:00 pm Bangladesh time on Monday at the floodlight Bashundhara Kings Arena in the capital.
Ahead of Monday's key match, Maziya SRC and Bashundhara Kings will have their final practice sessions on Sunday afternoon and evening, respectively, after addressing the official press conference in the afternoon.
Two Indian clubs—Kolkata Mohun Bagan Super Giants and Odisha FC—will also play on Monday at 8:00 pm at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
Bashundhara Kings, which were placed in four-team Group D of the AFC Cup with Odisha FC, Mohun Bagan Club of India, and Maziya SRC of the Maldives, had already played four matches.
Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) champions Bashundhara Kings made a frustrating start in the four-team Group D of the AFC Cup after suffering a 1-3 goal defeat against the Maldives in the group opener in Male, but they bounced back in the race, beating Odisha FC by 3-2 goals in their home match in Dhaka.
The Kings played a 2-2 draw with Indian giant Mohun Bagan Club in their away match held in Odisha last month, and later they made history with their first-ever victory against Kolkata Mohun Bagan Club, beating them by 2-1 goals in the home match in Dhaka this month.
On completion of four group matches, Bashundhara Kings and Kolkata Mohun Bagan Club lead the group table jointly, securing seven points each, while Maziya SRC is at the bottom with three points from four matches.
The Kings will play their next match, an away match with Odisha FC of India, on December 11 at 8:00 pm Bangladesh time at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
Each of the four Group D teams of the AFC Cup 2023–24, a second-tier Asian Continental Club Football Competition after the AFC Champions League, is playing each other in a home-and-away round-robin format.
Later, the table-toppers will progress to the AFC Cup inter-zone play-off semi-finals.
Fight in the stands delay start of Argentina-Brazil World Cup qualifying match
Lionel Messi led his Argentina lineup off the field because of a brawl between rival fans in Brazil, delaying the start of their South American World Cup qualifier by 27 minutes Tuesday at the Maracana Stadium.
Messi's squad returned from the locker room after it was deemed to be safe and went on to win a tense match 1-0, staying on the pitch to celebrate with their fans long after the final whistle.
“There was family of the players (there). We were more worried about that than playing the match,” Messi said after the match. “We did that (going to the locker room) because that was the way to make it all calm. From below, we couldn’t do much, we saw how they (police) hit people.”
Read: Argentina beats Brazil 1-0 in World Cup qualifying after crowd violence delays start
Players of both teams had earlier asked fans for calm, with Argentina goalkeeper Dibu Martinez racing to one of the rails in front of the visiting fans and urging police to stop the violence.
Police used batons to break up the fights in the crowd, which started minutes after the national anthems echoed around the stadium.
Parts of seating and other objects were thrown from both sides and hit some spectators behind one of the goals, and at least one fan left the stadium bleeding from his head.
Argentina returned after 22 minutes in the locker rooms, and warmed up for several minutes before the game was finally started.
Dozens of police surrounded Argentina fans as they cheered during the match, and even more security faced toward them on the pitch. Police gathered around the section that can hold about 3,000 fans.
Col. Vagner Ferreira, the highest-ranking police officer in the stadium, blamed organizers for the lack of a barrier between home and visiting fans. He defended the actions of police.
Read: Messi seeks 1st goal against Brazil in World Cup qualifying, hosts try to avert crisis in Rio
“Every action demands a reaction. There is a history of confrontation here. At first we spoke to them. Then, we had to use our batons. There was no lethal force involved, no rubber bullets, no tear gas. This was a very technical approach,” Ferreira told TV channel SporTV.
All 69,000 tickets for the match in Rio de Janeiro were sold. Brazil fans, who jeered and applauded Messi before the brawl began, chanted against him when he returned to the pitch.
Brazil players remained on the pitch and warmed up while waiting for the Argentina team to return.
Argentina leads South American World Cup qualifying with 15 points from six games. Brazil is in sixth position. Both teams had lost their previous games in the 10-team round-robin competition.
The rivalry between Brazil and Argentina started at the club level and grew after the Argentinians won their first World Cup title in 1978. The Brazilians beat Argentina 3-1 in the second phase of the 1982 World Cup, and the Argentines responded with a 1-0 victory eight years later in the round of 16.
The reginal rivals have since played fierce matches in World Cup qualifying and in Copa America, but not in World Cups.
They were expected to face off in the semifinals last year in Qatar, but Brazil was knocked out by Croatia in the quarterfinals before Argentina went on to win the title for a third time.
Read: FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Bangladesh team make gym, recovery session in Melbourne Sunday
The heated debate over who is the best footballer in history, with most Brazilians going for Pelé and Argentinians split between Messi and Diego Maradona, has also intensified the rivalry.
On Nov. 4, Brazil's Fluminense won the Copa Libertadores final at the Maracana Stadium after a week of street fights between some of its supporters and those of Argentina's Boca Juniors.
Argentina beats Brazil 1-0 in World Cup qualifying after crowd violence delays start
Many fans came to the Maracana Stadium on Tuesday to watch Lionel Messi in his likely last match in Brazil, a superclasico in World Cup qualifying against the hosts. Instead, they saw Nicolás Otamendi score the only goal in a 1-0 win for Argentina after a brawl between fans that delayed the start of the game.
The World Cup champions inflicted the first home defeat on Brazil ever in World Cup qualifying. It was Brazil’s third consecutive loss in the round-robin tournament — another negative mark for new coach Fernando Diniz.
Messi left the pitch in the 78th minute amid a mixture of jeers and applause from Brazil fans. Dozens of children arrived at the Maracana wearing the shirts of Barcelona, the star’s previous club, and Inter Miami.
The Argentine star wasn’t able to end one of his last barriers in the sport at the Maracana, though, to score against the Brazilians in a World Cup qualifier.
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Shekh Morsalin guides Bangladesh to draw with Lebanon
Argentina will return home not only atop the South American qualifying standings but also having given its fans one more chance to celebrate a victory at the historic stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Two years ago, Ángel di Maria scored the only goal in an empty Maracana to give his team the Copa America title.
The violent pre-match incident, starting shortly after the national anthems, stalled the start for 27 minutes. Argentina, led by Messi, headed to the locker rooms for 22 minutes. At least one fan left the stadium bleeding from his head. Rio police said they had arrested eight people due to the brawl.
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Bangladesh to play Lebanon on Tuesday
The aggression between fans was reflected on the field in the first 20 minutes of the encounter; the referee gave fouls against Brazil during that time. The tension eased and allowed Argentina to avoid direct confrontation.
Brazil wasted opportunities, with Raphinha’s free kick in the 38th minute and Cristian Romero saving Argentina near the goal line six minutes later after a crossed shot by Gabriel Martinelli.
Brazil suggested they would keep the pressure after the break. Rodrygo forced goalkeeper Dibu Martinez to a close-range save in the 54th.
But Argentina’s goal in the 63rd with a header by Otamendi, who jumped above the Brazilian defenders to meet a corner kick, was one of the few chances the team created.
Teenager Endrick, one of Brazil’s big hopes up front, didn’t make much difference after he went on in the 72nd.
In the 81st, midfielder Joelinton, who had just stepped in as a substitute for Brazil, was sent off after pushing Rodrigo de Paul. Brazil fans ended the match chanting “ole” for every touch of the Argentinians, while the visiting supporters waved their shirts as some of their players celebrated on the pitch.
Argentina leads the 10-team South American qualifying competition with 15 points from six matches, followed by Uruguay on 13 and Colombia. Brazil could end the year in sixth position, with seven points.
The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada will include 48 teams, meaning direct entry for the top six teams from South America. The seventh-place team can earn a berth in an intercontinental playoff.
Also on Tuesday, Colombia won 1-0 at Paraguay; Uruguay beat Bolivia 3-0 in Montevideo; and Ecuador topped Chile 1-0.
Peru and Venezuela were still playing at the time the Brazil vs. Argentina match ended.
The seventh and eighth rounds of South American qualifying will take place in September after the next edition of Copa America in the United States.
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Shekh Morsalin guides Bangladesh to draw with Lebanon
Promising striker Shekh Morsalin guided hosts Bangladesh to a 1-1 draw with the superior Arabian rivals Lebanon in their home match of the four-team Group I of the FIFA World Cup Asian Qualfiers at the housefull floodlight Bashundhara Kings Arena here Tuesday evening.
This was the first draw between 183rd-ranked Bangladesh and 104th-ranked Lebanon in their fourth meeting since 2011.
Lebanon had the upper hand in three previous meetings, beating Bangladesh twice against one defeat.
After a barren first half in the day's keenly contested match, substitute forward Majed Osman put Lebanon ahead in the 68th minute with an easy angular shot from a handshake distance, utilising blander mistakes by Bangladesh defender and substitute cusdodian Srabon (1-0).
Morsalin, who returned to the national squad after facing suspension, levelled the margin for Bangladesh just four minutes later (72nd minute) by a powerful shot amid huge jubilations from house-full local fans (1-1).
Bangladesh partly dominated over their superior rivals, Lebanon, except for the first ten minutes of the goalless first half, where they managed three good chances that were spoiled by Bishwanath Ghosh and Shekh Morsalin.
Bishwanath Ghosh managed the first chance in the 24th minute off a Jamal Bhuyan corner, but his poor header nicely saved the opponent goalkeeper.
Shekh Morsalin spoiled the remaining two chances in the 34th and 44th minutes as he failed to connect the ball home from close.
The match was also keenly contested in the second half, when both teams scored one goal each and left the field sharing one point each.
The Bangladesh team played the day's vital match without two key players, forward Rakib Hossain and defender Saaduddin, who missed the match against Lebanon for receiving the second yellow card in the last match against Australia.
Earlier, in the FIFA World Cup Qualification in 2011, Bangladesh conceded a 0-4 goal defeat against Lebanon in the away match, but Bangladesh returned brilliantly, beating Lebanon by 2-0 goals in their home match 12 years ago.
In the last SAFF Championship held in the Indian city of Bengaluru in June this year, Lebanon played as an invitee team and beat Bangladesh by 2-0 goals, both scored in the last ten minutes of the match.In their opening 2nd round Group I match of the going FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifers, Bangladesh made a frustrating start after conceding their 2nd worst 0-7 goals defeat against much stronger Australia in Melbourne last Thursday (Nov 16), featuring a hattrick by Maclaren.
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Bangladesh to play Lebanon on Tuesday
Hosts Bangladesh National Football Team will play Arabian rivals Lebanon in their home match of the four-team Group I of the FIFA World Cup Asian Qualfiers on Tuesday.
The second round Group I match between two teams will kick off at 5:45 pm Bangladesh time on Tuesday evening at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka.
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Maclaren's hattrick helps hosts Australia to crush Bangladesh 7-0 in opener
In their opening second round Group I match, Bangladesh made a frustrating start after conceding their second worst 0-7 goals defeat against much stronger Australia in Melbourne last Thursday (Nov 16), featuring a hattrick by Maclaren.
The ever-worse defeat of the Bangladesh National Football Team was against South Korea by 0-9 goals in 1979.
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Bangladesh to play much stronger Australia in Melbourne on Thursday
But Lebanon, in their first appearance in the second round Group I match, played to a goalless draw with Palestine at a neutral venue in the UAE, also on November 16.
Tuesday's match will be the fourth meeting between two teams since 2011, when Lebanon had the upper hand in the previous three meetings, beating Bangladesh twice against one defeat.
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Bangladesh team make first practice session in Melbourne
In the FIFA World Cup qualification in 2011, Bangladesh conceded a 0-4 goal defeat against Lebanon in their away match in July, while they beat Lebanon by 2-0 goals in their home match on July 28.
In the last SAFF Championship in India in June this year, Lebanon played as an invitee team and beat Bangladesh by 2-0 goals, scored in the last ten minutes.
Two vital players of the Bangladesh team—forward Rakib Hossain and defender Saaduddin—will miss Tuesday's vital match against Lebanon, as both players received second yellow cards in the last match against Australia.
Lebanon reached Dhaka on November 17 morning, while the Bangladesh team returned Dhaka from Australia at night. Both teams made their final practices on Monday.
Earlier, Bangladesh earned the rights to play in the six-match Group I matches of the FIFA World Cup's Asian qualifiers with Australia, Lebanon, and Palestine, eliminating the Maldives in round 1 last month.
Bangladesh will play their remaining four Group I matches next year.
Bangladesh will play their home match against Palestine on March 21, their away match with Palestine on March 26, their home match against Australia on June 6, and their away match with Lebanon on June 11.