Visiting Nepal Under-23 football team shrugged off their previous defeat to bounce back in the series as they beat host Bangladesh U-23 football team by a solitary goal in the second and final match of the SS Steel International Friendly match held on Friday at the Sylhet Divisional Stadium in Sylhet.
After the barren first-half, Sushil scored the all-important goal for Nepal in the 79th minute after capitalizing on a cross from Rabin Shrestha, frustrating the crazy crowd in the big bowl.
The Nepalese booters played comparatively batter football in the whole proceeding and notched their deserving victory while Bangladesh were totally off-color, especially in the second-half of the match.
The match started one hour delay due to crowd trouble. More than 10,000 crazy spectators broke the stadium gate and entered the playground after not finding any space at the jump-packed 25,0000 capacity gallery that triggered both the teams refused to play.
State-owned Bangladesh Television (BTV) World telecast the match live.
Bangladesh Under-23 Football Team, now preparing for the next month’s Incheon Asian Games, beat touring Nepal Under-23 side by 1-0 goal in the first match of the two-match SS Steel International Friendly series at Bangladesh Army Stadium in Banani of Dhaka on Tuesday.
Earlier, a 24-member Nepal Under-23 Football team arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka Monday night after a flight delay of nearly six hours.
The Nepalese team, comprising 20 players and four officials, will return home on August 30 after their six-day tour.
Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) invited the Himalayan team as part of their preparation for the next month’s Asian Games Football beginning in the South Korea city of Incheon on September 14.
Bangladesh has been placed in Group-B of the Asian Games football along with SAFF football champions Afghanistan, Hong Kong and stronger Uzbekistan.
The team is expected to leave Dhaka for Incheon on September 12 for the Asian Games.
Bangladesh will start their Asian Games campaign taking on Afghanistan on September 15 at Munhak Stadium. They will meet giant Uzbekistan on Sept 18 and Hong Kong on Sept 22 in the remaining group matches.
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