1:1 at half-time after Rakib strikes equaliser for Bangladesh

Bangladesh are 1-1 at half-time in their must-win SAFF Championship fixture against Maldives at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru today.  

The men in red and green went a goal down but recovered in time to gain the necessary momentum heading into the second half. The charges of Javier Cabrera enjoyed a greater share of possession and registered more shots on target than their opponents. 

Bangladesh operated on a positive note from the onset, focusing on building up from the back, with Maldives content to play a reactive game.

A few half chances came in the way for the men in red and green but Maldives broke the deadlock against the run of play in the 17th minute.

Bangladesh defenders have only themselves to blame for conceding as they failed to close down Maldives' number 10, Hamza Mohamed, who brilliantly whipped a curler from outside the box and found the target at far post's bottom corner, leaving goalkeeper Anisur Rahman Zico helpless.  

Jamal Bhuiyan and Co. regrouped with greater intensity after conceding and eventually, and deservingly, struck the equaliser in the 42nd minute

Sohel Rana crossed from the left flank following a short throw-in and found a leaping Tapu Barman in the box. Tapu headed the ball in the far post where Rakib Hossain made no mistake as he thumped a header home from close range. 

Following a 2-0 defeat against Lebanon in the Group B's opening fixture on Thursday, after which Maldives inflicted an exact score-line on Bhutan, Bangladesh are in a vulnerable position once again in the SAFF Championship as any result other than a victory against Maldiveswould leave them on the verge of exiting the competition in the group stage for the sixth straight time.