A large number of spectators turned out at the Bangabandhu National Stadium last night, expectinga repeat of their 2003 performance, when they beat rivals India in the semifinal to advance to the final where (hey lifted the SAFF Championship trophy for the only time beating Maldives in penalties

People of all ages appeared in festive mood and took their seats long before the game had kicked off and greeted the Bangladesh team with huge cheer as they took the field.

But their enthusiasm and spirit gave in, bit by bit, as the Bangladesh players ran chased shadows throughout the game. The hapless performance finally got the better of the crowd and they started to throw plastic bottles on the ground towards the end of the game and finally returned home with their heads low having seen their beloved boys in red-and-green bow down to India so lamely.

Abdur Rahman, a spectator who came from Badda said he was frustrated with the show of the local boys, "Bangladesh never looked as they would win the match. This was a poor performance and I am very disappointed."

A sport journalist at the press put his frustration more

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bluntly," It is our real standard. Unless our domestic football standard rise, we will continue to struggle at this level"

S h a k i b Al Hasan, Bangladesh national cricket team's stand-in skipper came to watch the match and cheer on the football team. He was disappointed like the rest, and he said Bangladesh did not look like winning the match and failed to show too much urgency even after they went down by a goal.

Another familiar face amongst the crowd who wished to remain anonymous, put his frustration right at the Football Federation, "I think the BFF is to blame for this. Bangladesh should not have sacked their coach just a few days ahead of such a crucial tournament. Who will take the responsibility now?"

He however did not want to put any blame on the new coach.