Bangladesh’s Agony Continues as Injury-Time Strike Denies Deserved Win

Bangladesh endured yet another heartbreaking night of international football as Nepal snatched a late equaliser in their friendly in Dhaka. Despite a superb brace from Hamza Choudhury, the men in red and green failed to hold on, conceding in the third minute of added time to settle for a frustrating 2–2 draw.

At the end of the 90 minutes, Bangladesh were ahead 2–1 and looked set for a morale-boosting victory in their build-up to the Asian Cup qualifiers. But a lapse in concentration from a Nepalese corner allowed Ananta Tamang to flick the ball home, repeating a familiar pattern of Bangladesh crumbling deep into stoppage time.

Match Summary

Bangladesh dominated possession during the first half yet lacked precision in the final third. Rakib and Faisal Ahmed Fahim squandered promising opportunities, and poor marking from Saad Uddin and Sohel Rana allowed Rohit Chand to lash Nepal ahead after 32 minutes.

Hamza’s Double Brings Bangladesh Back to Life

The second half sparked into life almost instantly. Coach Cabrera replaced Sohel Rana with Samit Som, and within moments Fahim’s cross found Jamal, who delicately chipped the ball towards Choudhury. The Leicester-born midfielder launched himself acrobatically, executing a stunning bicycle kick to level the match—a goal that lifted the home crowd to their feet.

Just three minutes later, Rakib was brought down inside the box, prompting Sri Lankan referee Kasun Lakmal to award a penalty despite heated protests from the Nepalese players. Choudhury calmly rolled the ball home to complete his brace and put Bangladesh ahead.

The Curse of Added Time Strikes Again

Once Choudhury was substituted in the 80th minute, Bangladesh’s midfield control evaporated. Nepal surged forward relentlessly, even rattling the crossbar before finally finding the equaliser. The 93rd-minute flick from a corner felt painfully familiar—Bangladesh had similarly conceded late on in their 3–3 draw against Hong Kong.

Team Concerns and What Lies Ahead

This match served as preparation for Bangladesh’s crucial Asian Cup qualifier against India on 18 November. However, despite an extended training camp, the first-half display again exposed organisational flaws.

Cuba Mitchell made his debut, but coach Cabrera appeared unsure about his substitutions; with six changes allowed in friendly fixtures, several came far too late. Minor knocks to Zayan and Choudhury added further concerns.

Hamza Choudhury’s Goal Record for Bangladesh

Choudhury now has four goals in five international appearances, making him Bangladesh’s most consistent performer of the year.