Bangladesh’s U-20 team have turned their attention to recovery after beginning their AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-0 defeat to hosts Uzbekistan in Tashkent. The young side were under pressure for most of Monday’s match at the Dostlik Stadium, with Uzbekistan dominating possession and creating the majority of the chances. Bangladesh failed to register a shot on target in the first half as the hosts took control early.
Uzbekistan eventually broke the deadlock in the 20th minute before doubling their advantage shortly after half-time. Bangladesh goalkeeper Raj Chowdhury made several saves to prevent a heavier defeat, while the hosts also struck the crossbar in the second half.
With another important Group B fixture against Syria coming up on Thursday, Bangladesh have prioritised recovery rather than intensive training on Tuesday. Team doctor Md Asfan Afroz Akash said the players were given the entire day to recover from the physical demands of the opening match.
“Yesterday was a pressure game for all of us. Our boys worked very hard and today we have arranged a recovery session for them,” Akash said. “They are observing the whole day as a recovery day. This recovery session and the entire day will be very useful for them because we have another game coming up, along with training sessions.”
He added that the main objective was to ensure the players regain their energy and remain mentally focused ahead of the next match. “We hope these things will help them re-energise and stay focused for the next game and the training sessions,” he said.
The defeat leaves Bangladesh at the bottom of Group B after the opening round. India lead the group after beating Syria 1-0, while Syria sit above Bangladesh despite their defeat due to the goal difference. That makes Thursday’s meeting with Syria particularly important for Gerard Jones’ side. Bangladesh will need a significant improvement after struggling to cope with Uzbekistan’s pressure and failing to create enough attacking opportunities.
The team arrived in the qualifiers with confidence after winning the SAFF U-20 Championship, but their opening defeat has left little margin for error in their bid to reach next year’s AFC U-20 Asian Cup finals.
