By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, Mar. 24: An own goal from defender Kumarbaj Uulu Baiaman of the Kyrgyzstan Olympic team handed Bangladesh a 1-0 victory at the Three Nations Cup 2021 Football Tournament held at Dashrath Stadium, Kathmandu on Tuesday.

After stunning the 96th ranked Kyrgyzstan, FIFA's 186 ranked team Bangladesh national football team inched closer to the final of the tournament.

Defender Kumarbaj Uulu Baiaman of Kyrgyzstan put the adversary Bangladesh ahead in the 30th minutes while clearing the cross off Bangladeshi striker MD Saad Uddin from just out of the box.

The Asian Cup experienced team could not perform an impressive game against Bangladesh in the inaugural match of the tournament. Compared to Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh performed better. Though Kyrgyzstan built up their performance in the second half, they could not score a goal.

Kyrgyzstan found a chance to level the score but they were unlucky as their defender Kumarbaj Uulu Baiaman's powerful free-kick from 25 yards went in vain. Bangladeshi player Riyadul Hasan made a brilliant save to Baiaman's free-kick by heading in the dying minutes of the match.

Kyrgyzstan again was closer to the equaliser as Tashiev Kamolidin's close-range header went inches wide in Kumarbaj Uulu Baiaman cross.
Bangladesh's skipper Sohel Rana was declared the Man of the Match for his remarkable performance against Kyrgyzstan.

Nepal will host Kyrgyzstan in their opener of the tournament on Thursday. Nepal will face their regional rival Bangladesh in their second match on Saturday.

World football governing FIFA has listed the match between host Nepal and Bangladesh as an official international match. The title winner of the tournament will receive USD 5,000 while second place will bag USD 3,000. The Man of the Match will pocket USD 250 and the player of the tournament will receive USD 500.

The top two teams from the round-robin league will secure their spot at the title clash.

Nepali football governing body All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) is organizing the Three Nations Cup Football Tournament for the preparation of FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar Asia Qualifiers and Asia Cup Qualifiers.