Bangladesh still looking to improve 

Bangladesh national football played out of their skin as they held Indonesia to a goalless draw at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung on Thursday.

The draw equalled an upset as Javier Cabrera’s men punched above their weight against 159th ranked Indonesia in their den, causing frustration amongst the home fans who howled jeers and lit flairs after the final whistle.

Despite the massive result, Bangladesh skipper Jamal Bhuyan said there was still room for improvement, and that the match gave them a good preparation ahead of their AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in Malaysia starting on June 8, where they will face Bahrain in their opening fixture.

“I think the result is a good step for our preparations. Tt will be a confidence boost. For us, it’s good preparation, and maybe some are unhappy with the result, but actually, the result does not matter because we came here for preparation. That’s the most important thing,” Jamal said in the post-match press conference.

“We knew we had to be in a low block, we had to go on the counter. We couldn’t score, but overall, it was a good game for us, and of course, we can improve. I think if somebody has to be happy about the match, it should be Bangladesh,” he added.

Bangladesh will take on Turkmenistan on June 11 and will face hosts Malaysia on June 14.

Cabrera praised his players and credited them for sticking to his game plans to stop a team ranked 29 places above them.

The coach, who had initially tried to implement a possession-based style of play, quickly shifted to a counter-attacking, quick transition system, which he believed to suit the Bangladesh team better.

“We had planned well for our game against Indonesia. We knew their strengths and what he had to develop and perform in a low-block to stop them in an intense game. The players have done an absolutely fantastic job, and for us, it’s a good result,” Cabrera said post-match.

“The players’ performance was very good. We performed as a group. We have a very young squad, very energetic, and always looking to play for the national team. I’m very happy overall,” he added.