Sports Reporter

Bangladesh surrendered their first-half lead in the dying minutes as they started their campaign in the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa Trophy with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Seychelles at the Race Course Stadium in Colombo yesterday.

Mohammad Ibrahim gave Bangladesh a 17th-minute lead with a nice strike before Bangladesh wasted numerous opportunities and left room for substitute Rashid Dan Labrosse to hit an equaliser in the 88th minute.

The nation of Seychelles suspended domestic football in December 2020 due a surge in Covid-19 cases and their players came into the tournament with just one month of preparation and a lack of fitness led to multiple players seeking medical care due to muscle cramps.

But the men in red and green, who went to the tournament on the back of a good campaign in the SAFF Championship, lagged behind, especially in the last 30 minutes, allowing the Africans to find a deserved equalizer and leave with their heads held high.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s target of reaching the final became tougher as they next face a strong Maldives side and hosts Sri Lanka.

Although five key players were absent from Bangladesh’s squad, Mario Lemos’s charges looked well ahead of Seychelles from the onset in terms of skill, fitness and tactics as Bangladesh dominated the first half but lacked that telling spark in the attacking third.

With Bangladesh enjoying better possession, centre-back Tutul Hossain Badsha lofted through a long ball in the 17th minute that was tapped forward by Saad Uddin to Ibrahim, who danced past defender Don Maxime Fanchette and drove home from inside the box to give Bangladesh the lead.

Ibrahim got a chance to double the lead off a Saad Uddin cross the next minute, but he could not beat goalkeeper Alvin Roddy Michel from inside the six-yard box. Jamal also drove wide from inside the box in the 29th minute with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Defender Tapu Barman ran deep down the left to muster a shot from the top of the box that missed the target in the 37th minute before Ibrahim squandered another chance in the 42nd minute as coach Lemons was left to wonder why his side were not up at least 3-0 at the break.

After resumption, it was assumed that Bangladesh would put the game out of Seychelles’ reach but the scenario played out in reverse as Seychelles created at least five opportunities in the last 30 minutes and cashed in one of them.

A poor clearance saw substitute Flijah Woodely Tamboo bring down the ball on the top of the box before Labrosses beat Anisur Rahman Zico with a left-footed drive from the top of the box.