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Bright Bangladesh

Sports Reporter
The Bangladesh Under 17 team made an impressive start to their AFC Under-17 Football Championship campaign in Japan when they held highly rated Uzbekistan to a 1-1 draw at Fukushima yesterday.
Coach Shahidur Rahman Shantoo's boys went a goal behind early in the game but they bounced back after the breather and were rather unlucky not to pick up full points as they were twice denied by the woodwork.
Zahid struck the equaliser in the 53rd minute heading home a corner.
Starting the match as underdogs the teenagers from Bangladesh
projected a refreshingly different picture on the field and fought neck to neck with their superior central Asian rivals who are one of the favourites to reach the final round in Peru in 2005.
But it was the Uzbeks who drew first blood in the 10th minute courtesy of a stunning 50-yard scorcher from one of their central defender.
The goal spurred the Bangladeshis into going on the offensive and Zahid was a constant threat. The lanky forward however spoiled two easy chances in either half. After a close miss in the15th minute, he saw his powerful drive ricochet off the side post minutes before he got the equaliser.
Rajon was also unlucky as his shot rammed the crossbar just before the lemon break.
"This was a fantastic result for us. The boys played extremely well
after conceding the early goal," said Bangladesh manager Imtiaz Sultan Johnny while talking to The Daily Star Sports over telephone.
"It was a pleasure to see them dominating a superior opposition. It is difficult for me to narrate to someone who has not watched the match just how good our youngsters played. But I can tell you one thing, if they are given proper support, Bangladeshi players can compete on par with top Asian nations," said the elated former Bangladesh central defender.
Johnny was just a touch disappointed that no Bangladeshi expatriate was there to cheer the team on at the venue which was around 300 miles from Tokyo.
Coach Shantoo had gone to bed early after an absorbing day in the field and was not available for comments. One of the finest goalkeepers the country has ever produced, Shantoo has been working with the young side for the past one year.
Bangladesh will play their second match against Qatar tomorrow and meet Iraq in the last Group D match on September 9.
The Uzbekistan team is aiming for a top three position which will give them a spot in the FIFA U-17 World Championship in Peru in 2005. This is their fourth consecutive appearance in the AFC U-17 competition.
Islom Akhmedov, Uzbekistan's coach, has put together a very strong team for the tournament featuring eight players from the country's premier league and 12 players from Pakhtakor's farm club.
"I have been in charge of this U-17 team since the beginning of this year and we had very good season preparing for the AFC U-17 Championship in Japan," said Akhmedov prior to the match.
"We competed in the Uzbekistan first division as Pakhtakor's farm club and gained vital experiences ahead of the Asian Championship. We also took part in the Almaty tournament and came in first, and also traveled to Iran and Ukraine. In total, the Uzbekistan U-17 national team had 13 international matches this year.
'According to the regulations, we have to finish in the top three in order to get one of the spots allocated to Asian Continent. In my opinion, this is not 'mission impossible'," said Akhmedov.
The 16 finalists have been divided into four groups of four for single round-robin play, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the knockout rounds of the competition, beginning with the quarterfinals.