Bangladesh Under-23 team conceded a 0-3 goal defeat against top seed Uzbekistan in their 2nd Group B match of the 17th Asian Games Men's Football at the Ansan Wa-Stadium in Incheon, South Korea Thursday, reports UNB.
V Shodiev struck twice in the 13th and 20th minutes while S Rasidov netted the other goal for the Uzbekistan, which was placed 51 in FIFA ranking and 3rd in Asian ranking. In the last Asian Games in Guangzhou in 2010, Bangladesh also conceded an identical 0-3 goal defeat against Uzbekistan.
After the day's match, Uzbekistan top the Group B list securing four points with better goal difference (4-1), Hong Kong are in the 2nd slot also with four points from two matches for poor goal difference, Bangladesh went down to the 3rd slot with three points (1-3) while Afghanistan remained at bottom without any point, all playing two matches.
In the day's another Group B match, Hong Kong beat Afghanistan 2-1 at the same venue.
In the day's other matches, Indonesia crushed Maldives 4-0, Jordan beat UAE 1-0, North Korea defeated Pakistan 2-0; Thailand outclassed East Timor 3-0 while Kyrgyzstan drew 1-1 with Iran. In a must win situation, Bangladesh will play their last group match against another upper-ranked Hong Kong on Sept 22 at the Hwaseong Sport Complex in Incheon to decide their round of 16 berth from the group.
Later, group champions and runners-up teams will qualify for the round of 16.
Earlier, Bangladesh team made a dream start upsetting upper-ranked and SAFF champions Afghanistan by a solitary goal scored by captain Mamunul Islam at the Munhak Stadium Monday (Sept 15) and returned to the winning track in the Asian Games Football after 28 years.
Bangladesh's feat against Afghanistan on Monday was the 3rd win in their 21 matches of the Asian Games Football after beating Nepal 1-0 in the Seoul Asian Games in 1986 and defeating Malaysia 2-1 in the Delhi Asian Games in 1982.
Twenty-nine Asian nations, split into eight groups, are competing in the men's soccer of the Asian Games. In the preparatory practice match in Incheon, Bangladesh Under-23 Football team conceded a 2-4 defeat against Vietnam Under-23 at the Munhak Football field on Sept 10.
