It’s taken 22 long years, 11 matches and countless heartbreaks, but Bangladesh have finally done it – they’ve beaten India again, and on the very same patch of turf where they last tasted victory back in 2003.
Sheikh Morsalin’s 12th-minute strike proved enough as the Tigers held firm for a priceless 1-0 triumph in Tuesday’s AFC Asian Cup qualifier at the packed Bashundhara Kings Arena (National Stadium) in Dhaka. For a dead rubber – both sides already eliminated – it felt anything but. This was pure prestige, and Bangladesh claimed it with both hands.
Leicester City’s Hamza Chowdhury was the undoubted star of the show. The Premier League midfielder, winning only his seventh cap, produced a colossal performance: clearing off the line, thundering long-range efforts just wide, marshalling the backline and generally refusing to let India breathe. “Hamza was everywhere,” one local reporter quipped. “The match should have been sponsored by him.”
Bangladesh struck early and perfectly. Rakib Hossain tore down the left, bamboozled three defenders and fizzed in a low cross that Morsalin met first time, guiding it past the advancing Indian keeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. Cue pandemonium in the stands.
What followed was 78 minutes of nerve-shredding defending. India threw everything forward, but every time they breached the box they met either goalkeeper Mitul Marma or the immovable figure of Hamza Chowdhury. One goal-line clearance in particular had the home crowd roaring their approval.
Supporters bit their nails remembering the Nepal game just four days earlier – Hamza had scored twice only for Bangladesh to concede in the 95th minute and draw 2-2. Not this time. The defence, marshalled superbly by captain Sohel Rana and the excellent Topu Barman, stood tall.
The win lifts Bangladesh to five points from five matches in the qualifiers – their first victory over India in Asian Cup qualifying history and only their second ever against their neighbours on home soil.
For Hamza, who made his Bangladesh debut in March’s 1-1 draw in Shillong, this was the perfect homecoming present. “Lucky number seven,” he smiled post-match, referring to his cap tally. On this evidence, Bangladesh fans will be begging Leicester to let him keep adding to it.
Full-time: Bangladesh 1-0 India Goal: Morsalin 12’ Man of the Match: Hamza Chowdhury
After 8,030 days of waiting, the red and green can finally celebrate beating the Blue Tigers again. Sweet, isn’t it?
Bangladesh XI: Mitul Marma; Tapu Barman, Tariq Kazi (Shakil Ahad Tapu), Saad Uddin, Zayan Ahmed (Taj Uddin); Hamza Chowdhury, Sohel Rana, Shamit Som, Rakib Hossain; Sheikh Morsalin (Shahriar Emon), Faisal Ahmed Fahim.