DHAKA, May 9, 2025 (BSS) - Despite taking lead in the first half, Bangladesh were forced to play a 2-2 goal draw by Maldives in their opening group A match of the SAFF U-19 championshipk, held   at Golden Jubilee Stadium in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, Yupia, India today.
 
The defending champions, started positively and took 2-0 lead in the first half but they could not keep the tempo in the second half and eventually they had to share points despite taking a healthy 2-0 lead in the first half. Bangladesh also squandered several easy scoring chances during the proceeding, especially in the first half.

Captain Mazharul Huda Faysal gave Bangladesh a deserving lead early in the 12th minute.  After receiving a miss pass he ran down and sent the ball to the net with a powerful righter footer from top of the box giving no chance to Maldives custodian Ziyad.

Md Rifat Kazi doubled the lead just before end of the first half with a header from the goal-mouth melee after Mitu Chowdhury did the spade work from the close range. 

After the resumption, Maldives staged a brilliant fight back in the match and scored two goals to deny Bangladesh’s deserving victory. Anoof Abdullah reduced the margin for Maldives in the 57th minute with shot from the close range after capitalizing a cross from Nassah Ibrahim from the left flank.

Etham Ibrahim Zaki restored the parity scoring the second goal for Maldives in the 73rd minute. Taking a close pass Zaki sent the ball to the net with a perfect left footer placing shot from the top of the D box. 
 
Bangladesh will play their second and ultimate group match against Bhutan on Sunday (May 11) while Maldives will meet Bhutan on May 13 at the same venue.

After the group phase matches, the top two teams from each group will play the cross semifinals on May 16. The final of the tournament is slated for May 18.
All the matches will be played at Golden Jubilee Stadium in Yupia. 
  
Bangladesh U-19 squad: Ismail Hossain Mahin, Nahidul Islam, Raj Chowdury, Ashikur Rahman, Mithu Chowdhury, Sifat Sahariar, Abdul Riyad Fahim, Salah Uddin Sahed, Delwar, Sani Das, Abdul Kadir, Kamal Merdha, Nazmul Huda Faysal, Siam Omit, Ratul Hasan, Farzad Syed Aftab, Samuel Raksam, Mursed Ali, Joy Ahamed, Sree Sumon Soren, Manik, Rifat Kazi and Ashik.