Bangladesh Waste Chances to Reach Half-Time Goalless Against Bhutan in SAFF, Wangchuk Taken to Hospital With Head Injury

Bangladesh dominated the first half of their first match of the SAFF Championship against Bhutan but did not find a goal. They created chance after chance in attack, but several easy opportunities were missed and both teams went into the break goalless.

Bangladesh played attacking football from the start of the match. A chance came as early as the sixth minute. Rakib Hossain's cross from the right was aimed at Biswanath Ghosh in the box, but a Bhutan defender cleared the danger before the ball reached him.

Jamal Bhuyan took a powerful shot from outside the box on the rebound, but that too was blocked by the Bhutan defence.

Another chance came for Bangladesh in the 18th minute. This time Biswanath headed Rakib's cross at the far post, but his effort was off target.

Bangladesh attacked again in the 20th minute. The Bhutan defence dealt with the danger by stopping Rakib.

Then in the 25th minute came one of the easiest chances of the match. Biswanath found the ball almost unmarked in a scramble but could not put it in the net. His shot went wide of the post.

During the match, Bhutan's Orgyen Wangchuk had to leave the field with a head injury. He was later taken to hospital by ambulance.

Bangladesh became desperate for a goal towards the end of the first half. Just before the break, Biswanath and Rakib tried in succession, but none of the efforts finally found the net.

Bhutan, on the other hand, managed their first shot on target in the 40th minute of the first half. It did not, however, become a big test for goalkeeper Mehdi Hasan Srabon.

Fifteen minutes before the match started, Youth and Sports State Minister Aminul Haque unveiled the SAFF Championship trophy.

Bangladesh were forced to change their eleven just before the match began. Captain Topu Barman was ruled out of the starting eleven after being injured during the warm-up. Kazem Shah took his place in the eleven. In Topu's absence, Jamal Bhuyan is performing the captain's duties.