Picture Courtesy: BFF’s Facebook Page
Bhutan makes yet another sensation after defeating Guam in the first leg of the 2022 FIFA World Cup preliminary qualifiers Round 1 yesterday. Scoring the only goal of the match, the host nation surprised the world by defeating heavily-fancied Guam 1-0.
About 8,000 Bhutanese supporters flooded the Changlimithang National Stadium as the two sides met yet again for the first leg of the 2022 FIFA World Cup preliminary qualifiers Round 1. Bhutan first played the Guamanian side in 2003.
From the beginning of the match, the Bhutanese side kept their opponents on their toes. Chhuma Dorji Lepcha almost opened the scoreline at the 6th minute of the game when his acrobatic overhead kick was saved flawlessly by the Guamanian goalkeeper.
The Guamanian side struggled to gain momentum as Bhutan continued to press and attack vigorously. Keeping up the same spirit, Dragon boys finally broke the deadlock in the 35th minute of the game. A perfect assist from the fullback Nima Tshering was beautifully converted into a goal by Tshering Dorji.
In response to the Bhutanese goal, the Guamanian side almost equalized in the following minutes when a superbly build up attack by the visiting side was saved by the Bhutanese goalkeeper, Tshering Dendup. It was Bhutan who led the first half of the game by one goal to nil.
The second half saw Guam making more efforts to make their way back into the game with frequent attacks and good ball possession. However, making crucial interceptions and clearances the Bhutanese defensive wall stood tall. Likewise, Tshering Dorji and Chimi Dorji, both made quite an impression in the midfield area as they provided a good tempo to the game.
Having one-goal advantage, the Bhutanese side shifted their tactics from an attacking mode to a defensive mode. Guam couldn’t make a comeback to the game as they failed to break the impressive defensive compactness created by the host nation. By the end of the 90th minute, the match ended 1-0 in favour of the Bhutanese side.
Despite the commendable win, the match is far from over as the dragon boys will now have to defend their one-goal lead in Guam.
“We are not out of this, we have a second leg to play and it is only one nil. It is a positive result as it was not more than that. Let’s see when they come there, it will be a different place and is very hot there. However, It is all about our player stepping up now. We have to be braver,” Karl Dodd, the Head Coach of Guam, said.
“I expected a 3-0 win but we could only score 1. It will be difficult for the away game. We have to travel and most of the players won’t be fit. We will only get one day rest, as we will reach on 9th and we have our match on 11th. We might get tired but we will not back up. We will give our best,” Pema, the Head Coach of Bhutan, said.
The second leg will be played on June 11 in Guam. The winners from each tie will make it to the second round of the World Cup Qualifiers to begin September later this year.
The last win for Bhutan at international level was recorded during the meeting with Bangladesh which ended 3-1 in the AFC Asian Cup Qualification on October 10, 2016. The win yesterday marks an end to the ten long losing streak for the National football team.
