Morsalin strike ends BD's 22-year wait with win over India

FE Team | Published: November 18, 2025 23:43:17

Bangladesh football players celebrate after Shekh Morsalin scored the first goal that sealed the fate of the match against India at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Tuesday. — FE Photo by K Asad-Uz-Zaman

Bangladesh have edged India 1-0 in a tense AFC Asian Cup qualifier to claim a victory over their neighbours after 22 years, thanks to a deft first-half strike by Sheikh Morsalin, reports bdnews24.com.
In the 12th minute, midfielder Rakib whipped the ball into the box, where Morsalin burst through and toe-poked it past Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu to put Bangladesh ahead at the National Stadium on Tuesday.
The goal sparked wild celebrations inside the stadium.
The remainder of the match saw Bangladesh fiercely defend their lead against a desperate Indian attack, holding on to claim the narrow win in the second leg of the third round of Asian Cup qualifiers.
Bangladesh's last victory over India came in the 2003 SAFF Championship, when goals from Rokonuzzaman Kanchan and Matiur Rahman Munna sealed a 2-1 victory.
The win also lifted Bangladesh from the frustration of a winless qualifying campaign.
Captain Jamal Bhuiya, though sidelined from playing, witnessed his team break through a long spell of disappointment and savoured the moment of triumph.