Bangladesh's brave hearts came agonisingly close to a famous result before heartbreak struck at the death, as Hong Kong, China edged out the hosts 4-3 in a pulsating AFC Asian Cup Qualifier at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Thursday night.
It was a night that began with promise and ended in despair. English-born midfielder Hamza Dewan Chowdhury had set the stands alight in the 13th minute with a thunderous free-kick that flew into the top corner, a strike that instantly silenced Hong Kong's English coach Ashley Westwood, who had mocked the Leicester City man on the eve of the match, claiming Hamza "would sit on the bench" if he were in his team.
Bangladesh looked the sharper side throughout the first half, roared on by a full house in Dhaka. Yet, just as the hosts seemed ready to take a slender lead into the break, Everton Camargo pulled Hong Kong level in the fourth minute of added time, capitalising on a lapse in concentration, a recurring curse for the red-and-greens.
Moments after the restart, disaster struck again. In the 50th minute, Sohel Rana's weak back-pass invited trouble; Hong Kong's Raphaël Merkies pounced, rounded keeper Mitul Marma, and slotted home to make it 2-1. The same man doubled his tally in the 74th minute, rifling in from close range to stretch the visitors' lead to 3-1.
Bangladesh, however, refused to surrender. In the 84th minute, young star Sheikh Morsalin revived hopes with a brilliant finish after a swift counterattack, bringing the scoreline to 2-3. The hosts piled forward relentlessly, and deep into added time, substitute Shamit Shome rose highest to head home from Morsalin's curling corner, sending the stadium into raptures 3-3, and it seemed the night would end in redemption.
But football can be cruel. With seconds remaining, Raphaël Merkies, already the tormentor-in-chief, completed his hat-trick, firing past Mitul in the 90+11th minute to seal a dramatic 4-3 victory for Hong Kong.
It was a dagger to the heart for Bangladesh, who had shown grit, flair, and fighting spirit in abundance.
Despite the defeat, the match will be remembered for Hamza Chowdhury's stunning goal, the electric atmosphere in Dhaka, and a team that refused to bow out quietly.
As the final whistle blew, Bangladesh's players slumped to the turf, beaten but unbowed.
