Photo : Collected
Palestine national football team arrived Dhaka on Saturday (23 March) morning to play their Group I away match of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against hosts Bangladesh on March 26 at 3:30 pm local time at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka.
Bangladesh team also returned home from Kuwait Friday night to play their home match against Palestine.
After returned from Kuwait, Bangladesh team made their first practice session Saturday afternoon at the practice ground of the Basundhara Kings Arena.
Earlier on Thursday night, Bangladesh National Football team suffered a huge 0-5 goals defeat against war-torn Arab nation Palestine in their 3nd Group I match of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers at the Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait city.
It was the biggest defeat for Bangladesh against their much superior Arabian rivals Palestine in seven matches since their first meeting in Dhaka in 2006.
Bangladesh conceded defeat in every match except making 1-1 draw in their first meeting in the AFC Challenge Cup held in Dhaka in 2006.
Palestine is 86 steps ahead of Bangladesh in the current FIFA men's world ranking with a ranking of 97 against the Bangladesh ranking 183.
In Thursday's match, striker Oday Dabbagh made a hattrick for Palestine scoring three goals in the 43rd, 53rd and 77th minutes while another forward Shehab Qumbor netted twice in the 45+2 and 49th minutes respectively.
Bangladesh boldly faced Palestine till the 40th minute of the first half to restrict their stronger opponents goalless, but, made some mistakes in the dying moments of the first half.
In the 2nd half, Bangladesh were totally off-colour, specially the defense line up, suffering a huge defeat.
Bangladesh custodian Mitul Marma made some good saves to deprive Palestine from more goals.
Ahead of the World Cup Qualifying match against Palestine, Bangladesh national team conducted an intensive two-week long preparatory camp at the King Fahd Sports City Stadium in the Saudi Arabian City of Al Taif from March 3 to 17 and also played two preparatory matches there against Sudan, but all of their efforts went in vain.
Earlier, Bangladesh suffered a 0-7 goals defeat against Australia in their first away match on November 16 and drew 1-1 with another Arabian nation Lebanon in their home match in Dhaka on Nov 21.
In the remaining two FIFA World Cup Qualifying round group matches, Bangladesh will play World Cup playing Australia in a home match on June 6 and will play Lebanon in the away match on June 11.
Messenger/Sumon
