Bangladesh Olympic football team were held to a 0-0 draw by Pakistan in the Diamond Jubilee four-nation tournament in Maldives on Monday, with goalkeeper Mehedi Hasan Srabon’s outstanding second-half display ultimately sparing his side after their forwards squandered a series of clear-cut chances throughout the match at Male Stadium.
Bangladesh came within a whisker of opening the scoring in the very first minute when Nazmul Faisal’s cross found Saurav Dewan unmarked inside the six-yard box, only for the forward’s gentle touch to float over the crossbar. The early miss set the tone for a frustrating evening in front of goal, though Bangladesh largely controlled the first half and created the better opportunities.
The most glaring miss arrived in the 28th minute when Murshad Ali was played clean through by Rahul with only the opposing goalkeeper to beat, yet somehow directed his shot straight at the keeper’s body from a position he would ordinarily be expected to convert. Bangladesh also felt aggrieved deep into first-half stoppage time when a foul on Rabbi inside the penalty area went unpunished by the referee, despite loud appeals from the Bangladesh players.
The most controversial moment of the match unfolded in the 61st minute when Pakistan defender Syed Abdullah Shah was initially shown a red card by the referee for pushing Bangladesh captain Manjurur Rahman, only for the official to inexplicably reverse the decision moments later and reduce the punishment to a yellow card. Emboldened by their escape, Pakistan grew in confidence and launched a series of attacks in the closing stages.
Srabon produced the save of the match in the 66th minute, hurling himself acrobatically to punch away Ali Haidar Shah’s superb side-volley and concede only a corner. He then stood firm again in the final minute, getting down sharply to keep out Fahim Hamid’s powerful drive and preserve the clean sheet that earned Bangladesh their point.
