Bangladesh beat San Marino 2-1 at San Marino Stadium, Serravalle on Friday in a FIFA friendly that gave the country their first win against a European side on European soil, and Thomas Dooley his first victory as Bangladesh head coach. Topu Barman scored both goals, heading in from a Sheikh Morsalin cross on 19 minutes and then deflecting in Bishwanath Ghosh’s effort from a Hamza Choudhury free-kick on 86 minutes. His tally for Bangladesh now stands at eight international goals.
Dooley named his XI in a 4-3-3, leaving out Canada-based Shamit Shome and handing the midfield to Jamal Bhuyan, recalled to the starting line-up after being left out repeatedly under former coach Javier Cabrera. Hamza Choudhury and Sohel Rana Senior flanked the captain, while Sheikh Morsalin led the attack with Faisal Ahmed Fahim and Rafiqul Islam, returning after two years away from the starting XI, on the wings. The stands were packed with Bangladesh expatriates, whose noise drove the visitors forward from the first whistle.
Bangladesh started at high intensity and put San Marino under pressure early. On 19 minutes, Morsalin swung in a cross and Topu Barman met it with a clean header to put Bangladesh ahead. The lead lasted 12 minutes. San Marino broke quickly on the counter in the 31st minute and Filippo Berardi threaded a pass through the Bangladesh defence for Nicolas Giacopetti, who finished past Mitul Marma to level at 1-1. The game turned physical after the equaliser, and Rafiqul Islam picked up a yellow card for a foul in the 33rd minute.
Bangladesh went in level at half-time and came out for the second half still looking for the winner. Fahim rattled the post with a shot on 53 minutes. San Marino then pressed hard between the 56th and 62nd minutes, and in the 61st, Mitul Marma produced a sharp save to deny Lorenzo Capicchioni from close range.
Dooley made two changes on 64 minutes, sending on Fahamedul Islam for Fahim and Bishwanath Ghosh for Rafiqul Islam, and Bangladesh steadied themselves. As the match drifted towards a draw, Capicchioni fouled Saad Uddin on 85 minutes. Hamza stepped up to take the free-kick, Ghosh got a shot away in the resulting scramble, and Topu got his head to it to send the ball into the net.
The goal sent thousands of Bangladesh supporters inside San Marino Stadium into scenes of celebration. Bangladesh, ranked 181st by FIFA, had beaten a European side ranked 211th on their own ground, 30 places below them in the table but on unfamiliar terrain for the visitors.
