Oman beat Bangladesh in FIFA, AFC qualifiers

Midfielder Biplo Ahamed scores the only goal for visiting Bangladesh. Photo: UNB
Midfielder Biplo Ahamed scores the only goal for visiting Bangladesh. Photo: UNB

Oman beat Bangladesh by 4-1 goals in the FIFA World Cup 2022 and AFC Asia Cup 2023 of the joint qualification round for at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Oman on Thursday, reports UNB.

Midfielders Mohsin Al Khaldi, Rabia Al Mandhar and Arshad Al Alaw and defender Amran Al Hidi scored one goal each for hosts Oman while midfielder Biplo Ahamed scored the only goal for Bangladesh.

In the day’s other match, Afghanistan played 1-1 draw with India at Republican Central Stadium in Tajik Capital Dushanbe.

Despite winning the match, Oman remained in the 2nd slot with 9 points from 4 matches while Asian champions Qatar sit in pole opposition in the group with 10 points from 4 matches, Afghanistan are 3rd with 4 points from 4 matches, India are 4th with 3 points from 4 matches and Bangladesh are bottom with a solitary point from their 4 matches.

Bangladesh gave tough fight against their mighty opponents and hosts Oman from the very beginning of the match.

Oman, ranked nearly 100 sports higher in the FIFA rankings, tried to put pressure on Bangladesh with their attacking football but Bangladeshi defenders resisted all of their efforts and went into the dugout level-pegging after the first half.

In the second half, midfielder Mohsin Al Khaldi finally broke the deadlock scored with his left-footed shot from the edge of the box in the 48th minute (1-0).

In a span of ten minutes, Bangladesh conceded two more goals as midfielders Rabia Al Mandhar and substitute midfielder Arshad Al Alaw netted twice to widen the margin for the hosts in the 68th and 78th minutes (3-0).

Midfielders Mohsin Al Khaldi, Rabia Al Mandhar and Arshad Al Alaw and defender Amran Al Hidi scored one goal each for hosts Oman. Photo: UNB
Midfielders Mohsin Al Khaldi, Rabia Al Mandhar and Arshad Al Alaw and defender Amran Al Hidi scored one goal each for hosts Oman. Photo: UNB

Bangladesh scored their lone consolation goal when midfielder Biplo Ahamed sent the ball home with a clinical finish from inside the box in the 81st minute (3-1).

But defender Amran Al Hidi netted the hosts’ 4th goal in stoppage time (91st minute) to seal a comfortable victory for Oman (4-1), and hand Bangladesh their biggest defeat of the campaign so far.

The match saw Rayhan Hasan of Bangladesh getting a yellow card.

Bangladesh are in Group E of the qualification round with Qatar, Oman, Afghanistan and India.

Bangladesh team started their campaign in FIFA and AFC meet with a 0-1 defeat against Afghanistan in the 1st match in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe on 10 September, conceded a 0-2 goals defeat against Asian champions Qatar in the 2nd match in Dhaka on 10 October and played to a 1-1 draw against India in their 3rd match in Kolkata on 15 October.

In the remaining group matches, Bangladesh will play Afghanistan on 26 March next year in Bangladesh, Qatar on 31 March in Qatar, India on 4 June in Bangladesh and Oman on 9 June in Bangladesh.