SAFF Championship 2023: Bangladesh qualified for the Semi-Final after 14 years as they defeated Bhutan by 3-1

Bangladesh defeated Bhutan 3-1 in the final group stage game of the prestigious SAFF Championship 2023. They came from 1-0 down to score 3 goals and win the clash. They also qualified for the Semi-Final against Kuwait on July 1st at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru. Bangladesh reached their first Semi-Final after 14 years in this competition. Bhutan returned back to their home with zero victories in their three respective games.

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SAFF Championship 2023: Bhutan vs Bangladesh Match Report

First Half:

Bhutan kept the possession and Bangladesh hit them on the counters, a simple first-half story from Bhutan vs Bangladesh clash. Nagmyel came up with the early goal for Bhutan in the 12th minute of the game. A perfect assist from their best player, Dorji, and Nagmyel buried that into the back of the net. The Bangladeshi players didn't lose their hope and came up with a brilliant equalizer in the 21st minute. It didn't take them long to come up with another one as Bhutan's Jigme scored an own goal. Bangladesh got the lead in the 30th minute and the heads were down for the Bhutanese players. Jigme was also substituted after Bangladesh struck another one. A comeback to remember for them. It was none other than Rakib Hossain who didn't waste the opportunity. The first half ended with a 3-1 scoreline in favour of Bangladesh.

Second Half:

The second half was pretty boring in comparison to the first one. Not a single goal came in the half although Bhutan tried to score at least one but they failed miserably. Bangladesh didn't have to do anything as they just sit back and relaxed for the whole 45 minutes. Bhutan took a total of 12 shots and 3 were on target but it didn't scare the Bangladesh backline as they did a great job. Bhutan kept the majority of the possessions and didn't allow Bangladesh to get hold of the ball. That was surely the instruction from the manager but still, they failed to score any goal in the second half. The match ended with a 3-1 scoreline and Bangladesh qualified for the semi-final of the SAFF Championship after 14 years.

SAFF Championship 2023: Bhutan vs Bangladesh Post match Conference:

"The first 20 minutes were very good. After that, they lost concentration and we conceded, "Bhutan's coach said in the post-match conference.

"We are very happy for the team, for them, for the players because the matches have been very difficult. A lot of criticism many times, not anyway or any argument behind that should the other ones," Bangladesh's coach in the post-match conference. "Now we like to face that kind of tough challenges, but we will fight face to face and then we keep on going with the planning extremely important assignments in October with the World Cup qualifiers."

Bangladesh coach Cabrera also opened up about what kind of support he wants from the Bangladesh football federation for the future. "Now say, if we did one of these guys might come and we had zero media in a sense and media has a huge power to bring everyone together with positivity, support the national team, and that the players have definitely been dating that and that investment. It's not that difficult, it's not that it's very special to be all together."

SAFF Championship 2023: Bhutan vs Bangladesh | Live Blog | Lineups | 7:10 P.M.

Bhutan:

• GYELTSHEN ZANGPO
• CHENCHO GYELTSHEN
• SHERUB DORJI
• TENZIN NORBU
• CHIMI TSHEWANG
• KINGA WANGCHUK
• PHUB THINLEY
• NIMA WANGDI
• TSHELTHRIM NAMGYEL
• PHUNTSHO JIGME
• TSENDA DORJI

Bangladesh:

• ANISUR RAHMAN
• JAMAL BHUYAN
• MD RAHMAT MIA
• TOPU BARMAN
• MD RIDOY
• SHEKH MORSALIN
• RAKIB HOSSAIN
• BISHWANATH GHOSH
• MD SOHEL RANA
• SOHEL RANA
• Md ISA FAYSAL

Bhutan vs Bangladesh | Live Blog | 7:28 P.M.

The players are out of the tunnel. The game is all set to begin.

SAFF Championship 2023: Bhutan vs Bangladesh | Live Blog | 7:30 P.M. | 1′ | Kick off

The first half begins at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru.

Bhutan vs Bangladesh | Live Blog | 5′

The first corner of the game

SAFF Championship 2023: Bhutan vs Bangladesh | Live Blog | 12′ | Goalll!!!.. for Bhutan

Namgyel breaks the deadlock with a fantastic finish assisted by Dorji

Bhutan vs Bangladesh | Live Blog | 15′ | Corner for Bangladesh

Bhuyan delivers the corner kick but nothing comes out of it.

SAFF Championship 2023: Bhutan vs Bangladesh | Live Blog | 21′ | Goalll!!!.. for Bangladesh

Morsalin smashes the ball into the target and scores the equalizer.

SAFF Championship 2023: Bhutan vs Bangladesh | Live Blog | 30′ | Goalll!!!.. for Bangladesh: It's 2-1 now

Jamal delivers the shot and Rakib Hussain's connection and Jigme with an own goal.

SAFF Championship 2023: Bhutan vs Bangladesh | Live Blog | 36′ | Another Goalll!!!.. for Bangladesh: It's 3-1 now. What a comeback!!!!..

The brilliant effort there from Rakib. He makes it three from a zero-angle shot.

Bhutan vs Bangladesh | Live Blog | 40′ | Substitution for Bhutan

• In:- Tenzin Jigme
• Out:- Phuntsho Jigme

SAFF Championship 2023: Bhutan (1) vs Bangladesh (3) | Live Blog | Half time

It ends 3-1 in favour of Bangladesh

SAFF Championship 2023: Bhutan vs Bangladesh | Live Blog | Second half Kick off | 46′

The second half begins as Bangladesh gets us underway.

Bhutan vs Bangladesh | Live Blog | 57′

The Bhutanese players are keeping the bowl. They are not allowing Bangladesh to get possession.

Bhutan vs Bangladesh | Live Blog | 63′ | Offside

The offside flag is up against Shekh Morsalin

Bhutan vs Bangladesh | Live Blog | 75′

Final 15 minutes of the game

Bhutan vs Bangladesh | Live Blog | 77′

Crucial defensive block by Ghosh. Dorji was on his way with a fantastic run but Ghosh comes in with a great sliding tackle.

Bhutan vs Bangladesh | Live Blog | 83′

Rafikul Islam with a fabulous effort but Bhutan's defence was prepared for the interception.

Bhutan vs Bangladesh | Live Blog | Injury - Bangladesh 85'

Sohel Rana is stretched out from the field for a possible ankle injury.

SAFF Championship 2023: Bhutan (1) vs Bangladesh (3) | Live Blog | Full time