Bangladesh edged out hosts Oman after a thrilling penalty shoot-out 7-6 to clinch the Junior AHF Cup 2023 hockey title at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Thursday.
For Bangladesh, goal scorer Mohammed Hasan missed the first penalty but came back to score his second penalty later. Mohammed Rahman, Mohammad Uddin and Mohammad Joy all scored twice in the shoot-out.
Joy scored the winning penalty as Bangladesh goalkeeper Mohammed Noyon saved the penalty effort from Oman’s Talal Bait to emerge winners.
For Oman, Aiman Madit (2), Aliyas al Noufali, Osama Barazahan (2), Al Khoder al Noufali all scored in the penalty shoot-out. Talal Bait’s penalty efforts were saved by the Bangladesh keeper twice and Al Khoder al Noufali in one attempt.
Among the individual awards, Bangladesh’s Amirul Islam won the top-scorer award with nine goals.
Oman’s Maadh al Atabi was adjudged the man of the match of the final.
Oman captain Osama Barazahan claimed the best player of the tournament award.
Uzbekistan's Amur Ismoilov won the promising player award.
Thailand finished third in the tournament after beating Uzbekistan 2-1 in the penalty shoot-out after a 2-2 draw at full time.
The match went to a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw in full time.
Oman scored their goal in the second minute while Bangladesh found their equaliser late in the 53rd minute.
Oman made early success when Al Khoder al Noufali tapped the ball in from the very first move of the match after the kick-off.
Stunned by the early goal, Bangladesh made continuous raids to the Oman penalty area. Omani players were on task also by denying Bangladesh players in every attempt.
Bangladesh’s Mohammed Joy got a green card in the fifth minute.
Towards the end of the first quarter, Bangladesh won four penalty corners on the trot but the Omani defence was equally good on each occasion.
In the 23rd minute, Bangladesh made a dangerous move as the cross just missed a touch by the onrushing forward in front of Oman goalkeeper Ahmad al Farsi.
Bangladesh earned another penalty corner in the 28th minute but the Omani defence stood firm.
LATE EQUALISER
Oman’s Mohammed al Harthi received a yellow card for a rough tackle just before the half-time whistle.
In the third quarter, Oman missed a close chance when their player delayed his shot with only Bangladesh goalkeeper Mohammed Noyon to beat.
In the fourth quarter, Oman’s Talal Bait got a green card in the 49th minute.
In the 52nd minute, Bangladesh got the goal they waited for.
After a brilliant solitary move from outside the D, Mohammed Hasan scooped the ball past Oman goalkeeper Ahmad al Farsi to strike the equaliser.
Munashe Mashoko of Zimbabwe and Nozomi Yuzawa of Japan officiated the final.
All the semifinalists -- Oman, Bangladesh, Thailand and Uzbekistan have qualified for the Junior Asia Cup 2023.
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