Bangladesh will take on Hong Kong in their must-win return-leg match of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers at the Kai Tak Stadium today.
The match will start at 6:00pm Bangladesh Standard Time.
Bangladesh, who are currently in fourth place in the four-team Group C table with one point, have a remote chance of qualifying for the main event after their 4-3 and 2-1 defeats against Hong Kong and Singapore and a goalless draw against India.
As only the top team from every group will advance, Bangladesh will have to solve a bunch of equations to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup.
Bangladesh suffered a dramatic defeat to Hong Kong in the first leg, despite taking an early lead at the National Stadium on October 9.
Midfielder Hamza Choudhury gave Bangladesh an early lead in the 13th minute from a free-kick, but defensive blunders saw the team concede two sloppy goals, allowing Everton Camargo to pounce from close range just before the first-half.
Substitute Raphael Merkies scored another in the 50th minute to make it 2-1. Merkies scored again in the 74th minute, extending Hong Kong鈥檚 advantage.
Morsalin pulled one back in the 84th minute, while Shamit Shome headed in a deflected corner to level the score. However, the celebrations barely lasted two minutes, as Markeis struck again to complete his hat-trick and break Bangladesh鈥檚 hearts.
However, Cabrera remained determined for the crucial three points against Hong Kong in today鈥檚 game.
鈥榃e did very good overall, good performance. We knew the strength of Hong Kong that would be a very, very tight match. We did our best and the first time the first half. But they are very competitive. Both sides were competitive. And we expect exactly the same in this match,鈥� said Cabrera during pre-match conference on Monday.
鈥榃e are gonna go with the same mentality, with the same ambition, and knowing that we need to get the three points to keep going forward,鈥� he added.
Cabrera is confident that they are on the verge of achieving success following narrowly contested matches against India and Singapore.
鈥榃e believe we are already at that level. But what we need is to break that barrier of getting a win. And that for us happen something not exactly in the same way, but I can say Singapore or against India we were in that tendency,鈥�
Skipper Jamal Bhuyan also echoed the coach鈥檚 words while dismissing the concern with the conditions.
鈥極ur job is to get the three points tomorrow. I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 gonna be very cold. Maybe 21- 22 degrees. It鈥檚 gonna be perfect for the football for the players to play in these conditions,鈥� said Jamal.
In their other two games, Bangladesh will face India at home on November 18 before taking on Singapore in an away game on March 31 next year.
