Bangladesh beat Laos to progress to World Cup qualifiers

Bangladesh beat Laos by 1-0 aggregate margin in their pre-qualifier match of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, after the match between the teams ended in a goalless draw at the Bangabandhu Stadium in Dhaka. This means Bangladesh are now one of the 40 sides to play in the second round of the Asian qualifiers for the World Cup 2022.

This win ensures at least eight International matches for the Bangladesh football team for the coming years, and saves the team from an exile from FIFA/AFC for the next two or three years.

Bangladesh had won their away match held in Laos by a single goal, courtesy to midfielder Rabiul Hasan’s brilliant right footed strike. As Bangladesh only required a draw, coach Jaime Day brought in two midfielders into the team in Mamunul Islam and Rabiul Hasan, dropping Matin Miah and Arifur Rahman.

Laos looked more aggressive from the start of the game as they were trailing, and Bangladesh looked nervous in front of a quite big home crowd. But chances were few for the Laos team as the Bangladesh defense consisting of Yeasin Khan, Tutul Hossain Badsha, Rahmat Mia and Bishwanath Ghosh stood firm. Bangladesh team were not being able to keep hold of the midfield, but they created chances now and then and the forwards managed to miss them all. Two of the misses were incredible, as on 53rd minute Forward Nabib Newaj Jibon managed to miss an easy chance from a Biplo Ahmed cross. And just before the end of the game, substitute Sohel Rana put in a brilliant cross for Mohammad Ibrahim, who was in space, but somehow managed to head wide. Luckily these misses did not come back to haunt Bangladesh team as they got out unscathed and qualified.

40 teams will take part in the next round of qualifiers with being sorted into eight groups each consisting of five teams. Every team will play each other in home and away format, eight group champions and four of the best group runners-up will qualify for the final stage of the qualifiers.