SAFF Championship 2023: Bangladesh vs Maldives Live Blog, news, Live Updates, and Match Report

Bangladesh began their SAFF Championship 2023 campaign with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Lebanon on Thursday. Maldives also started with a quick goal against them but then Bangladesh came up with a brilliant comeback and won the game by 3-1 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. Rakib Hossain, Tariq Kazi, and Morsalin registered their name on the scoresheet and made that comeback possible. Bangladesh completely dominated the game after conceding the goal in the 17th minute of the game and kept themselves at the driving seat throughout the match. With this victory, they kept their hopes alive for the SAFF Championship 2023 knockouts.

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SAFF Championship 2023: Bangladesh vs Maldives Match Report

First Half:

Maldives were looking dangerous at the beginning although they didn't test the Bangladesh goalkeeper. Bangladesh kept possession but couldn't dominate or control the game. There was a rawness in Bangladesh's players that were pretty much visible. Maldives got the lead and it was expected. Hamza Mohamed gave the early lead to his side in the 17th minute of the game. He received a beautiful pass from Ali Fasir, hits a brilliant right footer, and gives Maldives a lead. The shot landed at the bottom of the left side in the opposition's nets.

Bangladesh's players hadn't a clue till the first 20 minutes but then they slowly woke up and made themselves visible in the clash. The Bengal Tigers started to dominate the possession and penetrate the opposition and then came the equaliser in the 42nd minute and Rakib Hossain didn't make any mistake and scored the goal. The first half ended with a 1-1 scoreline at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.

Second Half:

Bangladesh started the second half as a completely different side. They just didn't allow to play Maldives at the top. Bangladesh's players kept on attacking and then they got their deserving result. Tarik Qazi puts Bangladesh at the front for the first time. The goal came amid a lot of confusion as Maldives' defence failed to clear the ball. Bangladesh took multiple attempts at goal following a corner before Qazi finally put it in. That goal was the lifeline for Bangladesh to stay alive in the SAFF Championship 2023.

Bangladesh sit back for a few minutes but then decided to go on and score one more. The substitute, Morsalin got rid of his marker with a nice trick and slotted the ball past the goalkeeper in the near post after Biswanath Ghosh set him up on the counter. Maldives' defence was at fault for losing the ball deep in their half. The match ended with a 3-1 scoreline. Bangladesh got their important three points and will now face Bhutan in their last group stage match.

"We believed we can win. We had the belief. But, we have not done anything yet. We just won three points. We want to carry this forward." Bangladesh coach said in the post-match conference.

SAFF Championship 2023: Bangladesh vs Maldives Live Blog

Final Score: Bangladesh (3) vs Maldives (1)

Bangladesh vs Maldives Live Blog | Lineups | 3:20 P.M.

Bangladesh:

• ANISUR RAHMAN
• JAMAL BHUYAN
• TOPU BARMAN
• MD RIDOY
• RAKIB HOSSAIN
• MD FOYSAL AHMED FAHIM FAHIM
• BISHWANATH GHOSH
• TARIQ RAIHAN KAZI
• MD SOHEL RANA
• SOHEL RANA
• Md ISA FAYSAL

Maldives:

• HUSSAIN SHAREEF
• SAMOOH ALI
• AHMED NUMAAN
• HUSSAIN SIFAAU YOOSUF
• MOHAMED IRUFAAN
• ALI FASIR
• IBRAHIM AISAM
• NAIZ HASSAN
• HAMZA MOHAMED
• HAISHAM HASSAN
• HUSSAIN NIHAAN

Bangladesh vs Maldives Live Blog | 3:28 P.M.

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

Bangladesh vs Maldives Live Blog | 3:32 P.M. | Kick Off | 1′

First half begins

Bangladesh vs Maldives Live Blog | 10′

Corner for Bangladesh

Bangladesh vs Maldives Live Blog | 12′

Another Corner for Bangladesh

Bangladesh vs Maldives Live Blog | 15′

The Bengal Tigers are enjoying the bulk of the possessions

SAFF Championship 2023: Bangladesh vs Maldives Live Blog | 17′ | Goallll!!!!.. for Maldives

Hamza Mohamed strikes for the Maldives. He receives a beautiful pass from Ali Fasir, hits a brilliant right footer, and gives Maldives a lead in the 17th minute of the first half of the match.

Bangladesh vs Maldives Live Blog | 23′ | Maldives are looking defensively solid

Maldives are denying Bangladesh from creating opportunities.

Bangladesh vs Maldives Live Blog | 26′ | Yellow Card

Sohel Rana receives a yellow card

Bangladesh vs Maldives Live Blog | 31′ | Bangladesh's players are looking clueless at the moment

Maldives are not dominating the possession but their simple game has been proven brilliant till now. Bangladesh's players are unable to find an opening to get the equaliser.

Bangladesh vs Maldives Live Blog | 33′ | Nice header by Topu, Hussain makes a great save

It was nearly the goal for Bangladesh. Topu's header was saved by the Maldives No.1. It was the moment for Bangladesh to make a comeback.

Bangladesh vs Maldives Live Blog | 40′ | Bangladesh trying to attack with Rakib from left

Bangladesh's formation is looking good via long balls from midfield to left. Jamal, Sohail Rana and Topu Barman are the main men for them along with Rakib on the left!

Bangladesh vs Maldives Live Blog | 42′ | Goal for Bangladesh

An unmarked Rakib Hossain heads the ball into the net for Bangladesh. They are back in the game. It is Sohail Rana and Topu Barman who keep on providing the depth in attack for them.

SAFF Championship 2023: Bangladesh vs Maldives Live Blog | Half-time | 1-1

At half-time, it is 1-1 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.

Bangladesh vs Maldives Live Blog | 46′ | Diving header from Biswanath Ghosh

A brilliant header from Ghosh. It could have been the goal of the tournament if it had gone it. Good start for Bangladesh.

SAFF Championship 2023: Bangladesh vs Maldives Live Blog | 67′ | Goallll!!!!... well-deserved lead for Bangladesh

Tariq Kazi strikes for Bangladesh and they got their well-deserved lead.

Bangladesh vs Maldives Live Blog | 79′ | Bangladesh are looking for another one

Bangladesh have dominated possession and have created plenty of opportunities but they haven't succeeded more than twice. Maldives can be dangerous via counters.

Bangladesh vs Maldives Live Blog | 88′ | Chance Wasted

A glorious chance for Maldives was wasted as Ibrahim Hussain delivers a tasty lobb inside the box for Mohammad Hamza, who couldn't time his header and the ball goes to Anisur Rahman for an easy save. Yes, that still counts as a save.

Bangladesh vs Maldives Live Blog | 90′ | six minutes of additional time

Six minutes have been added on by the fourth officials.

SAFF Championship 2023: Bangladesh vs Maldives Live Blog | 90′ | Goallll!!!!... Bangladesh have done it

Shekhh Morsalin came up with the final punch of the game.

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

Bangladesh got away with the deserving three points from the game. They earned it and they surely deserved it. A brilliant comeback after conceding an early goal. It will surely give them a boost in their confidence before facing Bhutan in their last group-stage game.