DHAKA, Jan 23, 2020 (BSS) – Bangladesh’s hope of playing final of the prestigious Bangabandhu Gold Cup International Football tournament vanished into blue as they suffered a 0-3 goal defeat at the hand of favorite Burundi in the second semifinal held on Thursday at Bangabandhu National Stadium.
The day’s defeat meant, Burundi will meet first semifinal winners Palestine to decide the crown in the final which will be held on Saturday (January 25) at the same venue at 4pm.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to present in the final as the chief guest and hand over the trophy.
In the day’s match, Bangladesh missed a number of scoring chances but could not convert those due to lack of proper finishing and they had to leave the ground with the frustrating result.
On the other hand, it was also the day of forward Jospin Nshimirimana, the hero of the day’s second semifinal, who slammed the second hat-trick in the tournament and led his team to the final.
Bangladesh got the first scoring chance in the 7th minute from a counter attack when Ibrahim’s powerful angular shot from 20 yards went out of play beside the left side bar.
Burundi took the lead in the 43rd minute when forward Jospin Nshimirimana scored the first goal with a perfect placing shot off a pass from Blanchard.
He again doubled the lead scoring his second goal in the 45+2nd minute with a superb header from inside the danger zone off a pass from Mughisha.
After the resumption, Bangladesh were desperate to fight back in the match launching several attacks but all went in vain as Saad Uddin failed to score goal from close range despite finding the Burundi custodian Fales at a helpless under the bar.
Custodian Fales was superb under the bar as he foiled another attempt of Mahbubur in the 51st minute at a cost of corner.
Midfielder Saad Uddin must considers him as unlucky as his well-judge header from inside the D box sailed harmlessly over the cross bar in the 67th minute.
Jospin completed his hat-trick goal in the 79th minute. Following a counter attack he ran down with the ball and sent the ball home with an angular shot from close range.
Bangladesh, despite getting number of scoring chances in the proceeding and they failed to come back in the match while Burundi made the best use of their chances which they got in the proceeding.