Advisory: with photo
Dhaka, Nov 02 (BDNEWS) – Despite taking one-goal lead, Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) XI conceded 1-2 against the hosts Myanmar U-23 in the final of the Grand Royal Challenge Football Tournament at the National Youth Centre in Yangon Wednesday.
Hosts Myanmar emerged unbeaten champions in four-nation tournament involving China U-23, BFF XI and India U-20. Bangladesh became runners-up.
Bangladeshi boys failed to repeat the final of 1995 where Bangladesh team led by late Monem Munna beat the hosts 2-1 in the final to lift the first-ever international football trophy for the nation. In that tournament, Bangladesh also lost to Myanmar in the group match.
Bangladesh, who lost to Myanmar in the group match by the same margin of the final, went ahead in the 25th minute with a brilliant goal from Ujjal, but the hosts levelled the equalizer in the 61st minute, according to a message received here Wednesday.
No team found the match-winner in the second half as both the team played a tough-game, and the match rolled into extra minutes.
The first fifteen minutes of the extra time also ended in a goalless and the hosts found the match-winner five minutes into the second fifteen minutes.
Bangladesh team, under the supervision of newly appointed Argentine coach Diego Andres Cruciani, took part in the meet as preparation for the upcoming SAFF Football Championship and Asia Cup pre-qualifying matches against Pakistan.
BDNEWS/ 2004 hrs
