DHAKA (SW): The last moment equalized by Esmat Shinwari helped Afghanistan tie a friendly football match against Bangladesh.
As part of Joint Qualifiers for the World Cup and the Asian Cup, both teams met at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka on Tuesday.
The game started amid heavy rain that was exploited by the hosts to take a fourth minute lead through veteran striker Zahid Hasan Emily. Skipper Mamunul Islam curled in a superb free-kick from the left edge of the box, which was headed from inside the six-yard box by the Emily.
Afghan goalkeeper M Fardin managed to get a hand on the ball, but failed to keep it from going over the line.
The hosts continued in the attacking vein and caused a lot of trouble for the Afghan defense but the score-line remained unchanged throughout the first half.
With rain subsiding, the Afghans asserted their authority on the game in the second half and came close to an equalizer in the 52nd minute, but goalkeeper Russel Mahmud Liton kept the lead intact.
The hosts adopted a very defensive approach to see the clock run down, but as they were preparing to celebrate a hard-fought victory, substitute Afghan midfielder Esmat Shenwary dealt the crucial blow in the 92nd minute with a wonderful strike from 25 yards that gave Liton no chance to get to.
Afghanistan beat Laos in a friendly encounter on Friday by 2-0. Next week onwards, the Afghan squad would begin World Cup qualifiers by taking on Syria, Cambodia, Japan and Singapore.
ENDS
