After losing the first match, Bangladesh aims to regain some pride as they face the visiting Maldives in the second and final game of the two-match FIFA Friendly series today (Nov 16) at Bashundhara Kings Arena in the capital.

The match will be broadcast live on T-Sports, starting at 6 pm.

Bangladesh needs a victory in this second match to level the series, after a disappointing 1-0 defeat in the opener against the Maldives. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous scoring opportunities, Bangladesh struggled to capitalize on their chances, leaving the field empty-handed.

The result left not only the team, led by head coach Javier Cabrera, frustrated but also disappointed the local fans who had come to support them. In this second encounter, Bangladesh will look to convert their dominance into goals, aiming to bounce back strongly in front of their home supporters.

The Maldives took an early lead in the first match, with Ali Fasir scoring the decisive goal in the 18th minute via a header from a well-placed free-kick, leaving Bangladesh goalkeeper Mitul Marma with no chance to save it.

Following the defeat, head coach Javier Cabrera hinted at making a strong comeback in the second game. The focus for Bangladesh is clearly on improving their finishing, as their control of possession and attacking mindset showed promise but failed to yield results in the first match.

Meanwhile, the Maldives' head coach Ali Suzain will be looking to replicate their solid performance from the first game, hoping for another win against Bangladesh.

Historically, Bangladesh and the Maldives have faced off 19 times since 1984, with Bangladesh securing six wins, six draws, and seven losses. In the current FIFA rankings, Bangladesh stands at 185th, while the Maldives is ranked 163rd.

BDST: 1328 HRS, NOV 16, 2024
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