What if Rakib Hossain had converted one of the clear chances he squandered in the first half?
What if the referee had pointed to the spot when Faisal Ahmed Fahim was brought down in the box in the third minute of added time?
And what if Tariq Kazi’s stoppage-time header had found the net instead of being brilliantly saved by the Singaporean goalkeeper?
Questions, hypotheticals, and regrets – but none of it changes the result. Despite all the hype and anticipation, Bangladesh suffered a 2-1 defeat to Singapore at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.
Yet, despite the loss, Bangladesh remain ahead of India in Group C of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. India too endured a disappointing evening, falling 1-0 to Hong Kong in a dramatic finish at the Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong.
Sunil Chhetri and Sandesh Jhingan’s side now find themselves at the bottom of the group, while Bangladesh, led by the likes of Hamza Choudhury, Shamit Shome and Topu Barman, occupy third place. Singapore, following their win in Dhaka, have surged to the top of the table.
Earlier in the evening, Hong Kong marked the grand opening of their new home ground with a narrow yet historic victory. The match seemed destined for a draw until added time, when Indian goalkeeper Vishal Kaith brought down a Hong Kong player inside the area. Brazilian-born striker Stefan Pereira stepped up and converted the penalty in the 94th minute, breaking Indian hearts.
Both Bangladesh and India now have one point each from two games, and an identical goal difference of -1. However, Bangladesh sit above India by virtue of having scored more goals (1 compared to India’s 0).
Group C Standings (After Matchday 2)
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For/Against | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 / 1 | +1 | 4 |
| Hong Kong | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 / 0 | +1 | 4 |
| Bangladesh | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 / 2 | -1 | 1 |
| India | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 / 1 | -1 | 1 |
With identical records at the top, Singapore edge Hong Kong for first place thanks to a higher number of goals scored.
Looking ahead, Bangladesh’s qualifying campaign continues in October, with back-to-back matches against Hong Kong. The first will be played at home, followed by an away fixture five days later. To secure a place in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh must finish at the top of Group C.
With everything still to play for, Hamza, Shamit and their teammates will need to learn from their missed opportunities and come back stronger in the remaining fixtures.