FIFA World Cup Qualifiers | Boys stuck to game plan and frustrated India, says Jamie Day

FIFA World Cup Qualifiers | Boys stuck to game plan and frustrated India, says Jamie Day

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Bangladesh head coach Jamie Day was pleased that his boys stuck to the game plan of frustrating India and coming away with a point despite being the minnows ahead of the contest. An 89th-minute goal from Indian defender Adil Khan meant the visitors had to head home with a point. 

When India’s talisman Sunil Chhetri missed a sitter, by his lofty standards, in the dying minutes of the game, it seemed like the tactics to frustrate the home side using deep and organized defending had worked. Although they conceded the very next minute, the performance from the Bangladeshi boys was one worthy of all the accolades from their head coach.

“I thought we played exceptionally well. We frustrated India. Boys stuck to the game plan. Disappointed that we conceded in the end. We never expected to win coming here and play in front of 70,000 people. I am pleased to get a point,” Day said post-match, reported Hindustan Times.

“We are 83 places behind India so getting a point against such a country is great. It is actually bigger than India’s draw against Qatar as the difference is higher in our rankings,” Day said.

Throughout the match, India dominated the ball but failed to pressurize the visitors’ defence with relentless attacks. And just three minutes before the referee blew for half-time, Bangladesh even found a precious goal on enemy territory courtesy of Saad Uddin’s header.

“If your shape is good, then you are hard to beat. Indian had 80 per cent possession but did not create many chances. We had to defend in numbers today and counter-attack with pace had to frustrate them. That was the plan. It caused India a bit of a problem,” Day added.

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