Football: Bangladesh Wins Gold
Bangladesh reclaimed the coveted football gold medal of the SA Games after a span of 11 years with a facile 4-0 victory over Afghanistan in the final held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Monday.
Atikur Rahman Mishu, Enamul Huq, Abdul Baten Komol and Towhidul Alam Sobuj struck for the champions who dominated all the way through and presented the host country the 18th gold medal of the meet. Bangladesh wrapped their campaign with the gold medal believed to be the most precious of the sports extravaganza.
Bangladesh booters produced excellent commitment, maintained the same rhythm and were focused to their duties that categorically made the difference. Afghanistan had very little space to show their abilities and their in form forward Belal Arezou who scored nine goals in their way to the final failed to put any impact in his teams attacking aspirations.
Bangladesh reaped the fruit of their incessant onslaught in the 18th minute through midfielder Mishu. Defender Nasir produced another of his dazzling footwork to dribble past two Afghan defenders and finding no way to halt Nasir the Afghan defense hurled him down at about 20 yards off the post. Before Waly Faisal curled the free kick Mamunul Islam and Emily dummied the shot that left the Afghan defense puzzled.
Mishu anticipated the flight and put a delicate header in the right hand post of Afghan custodian Bashir Ahmad.
Bangladesh did not put any respite in their attacking flair and continued the exploration in the opponent defense. Enamul the agile forward unleashed a fierce side volley from the middle of the box in the 24th minute but saw his effort fly past the side post.
The thirst for the title kept the Bangladesh booters on their toes and it paid the dividend. Bangladesh doubled the lead in the 33rd minute. Left winger Shakil sprinted at his level best to take control of an Enamul cross and turned it into a neat center that beat Bashir in air and Enamul had all the time to head the ball home.
Afghanistan remained cornered in the own zone creating little headache for Bangladesh. Their forwards tried to use the flanks with the long ball but it turned naïve. Bangladesh took time in the dying stage of the first half and waited for the spaces for counter attacks. Emily was unfortunate in the 40th minute when header off a Shakil cross bounced over the crosspiece of substitute Afghan custodian Fradon Khatibi.
After the change of ends Bangladesh tasted the Afghan flair for a while and Aminul was savior as usual. Faisal Shahzada headed a neat Wahid Nadeem cross in the 58th minute but Aminul stretched to limit in the right side to punch the ball to safety.
Serbian coach Djordevic inserted fresh attacking duo of Mithun and Komol in the last half hour mark taking off Emily and Enamul and it worked again. Komol who was running behind the ball all through the pitch fired the third goal in the 69th minute. Afghan defence line faltered to clear a Mishu freekick from the right flank and Komol taking the ball turned 90 degree blasting the ball into the roof of the net.
Two minutes ahead of the stipulated time substitute forward Towhidul Alam Sobuj put the final nail in the Afghan coffin after Fradon Khatebi let a Komol drive slip from his grip and nearby standing Sobuj headed it home.
Atikur Rahman Mishu, Enamul Huq, Abdul Baten Komol and Towhidul Alam Sobuj struck for the champions who dominated all the way through and presented the host country the 18th gold medal of the meet. Bangladesh wrapped their campaign with the gold medal believed to be the most precious of the sports extravaganza.
Bangladesh booters produced excellent commitment, maintained the same rhythm and were focused to their duties that categorically made the difference. Afghanistan had very little space to show their abilities and their in form forward Belal Arezou who scored nine goals in their way to the final failed to put any impact in his teams attacking aspirations.
Bangladesh reaped the fruit of their incessant onslaught in the 18th minute through midfielder Mishu. Defender Nasir produced another of his dazzling footwork to dribble past two Afghan defenders and finding no way to halt Nasir the Afghan defense hurled him down at about 20 yards off the post. Before Waly Faisal curled the free kick Mamunul Islam and Emily dummied the shot that left the Afghan defense puzzled.
Mishu anticipated the flight and put a delicate header in the right hand post of Afghan custodian Bashir Ahmad.
Bangladesh did not put any respite in their attacking flair and continued the exploration in the opponent defense. Enamul the agile forward unleashed a fierce side volley from the middle of the box in the 24th minute but saw his effort fly past the side post.
The thirst for the title kept the Bangladesh booters on their toes and it paid the dividend. Bangladesh doubled the lead in the 33rd minute. Left winger Shakil sprinted at his level best to take control of an Enamul cross and turned it into a neat center that beat Bashir in air and Enamul had all the time to head the ball home.
Afghanistan remained cornered in the own zone creating little headache for Bangladesh. Their forwards tried to use the flanks with the long ball but it turned naïve. Bangladesh took time in the dying stage of the first half and waited for the spaces for counter attacks. Emily was unfortunate in the 40th minute when header off a Shakil cross bounced over the crosspiece of substitute Afghan custodian Fradon Khatibi.
After the change of ends Bangladesh tasted the Afghan flair for a while and Aminul was savior as usual. Faisal Shahzada headed a neat Wahid Nadeem cross in the 58th minute but Aminul stretched to limit in the right side to punch the ball to safety.
Serbian coach Djordevic inserted fresh attacking duo of Mithun and Komol in the last half hour mark taking off Emily and Enamul and it worked again. Komol who was running behind the ball all through the pitch fired the third goal in the 69th minute. Afghan defence line faltered to clear a Mishu freekick from the right flank and Komol taking the ball turned 90 degree blasting the ball into the roof of the net.
Two minutes ahead of the stipulated time substitute forward Towhidul Alam Sobuj put the final nail in the Afghan coffin after Fradon Khatebi let a Komol drive slip from his grip and nearby standing Sobuj headed it home.
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