Bangladesh beat Maldives 2-1 in friendlies

Young midfielder Papon Singh came off the bench to score a stoppage-time winner as Bangladesh fought back from a goal down to beat Maldives to a 2-1 in their FIFA international friendly at the Bashundhara Kings Arena on Saturday.

Papon, who came on late in the game as Bangladesh coach Javier Cabrera made a number of substitutions, stabbed home from centre of the box third minute into stoppage time after another substitute Shahriar Emon ran down the left flank and delivered a superb low cross.

Papon's goal capped off a remarkable comeback initiated by another midfielder Mojibur Rahman Johny, who scored the equaliser with a superlative effort in the 43rd minute.

Johny, who had impressed after coming on as a second-half substitute in Bangladesh's 1-0 defeat in Wednesday's match against the same opposition, repaid the coach's faith after being drafted into the starting eleven.

The former under-20 player received the ball in front of the box from Sheikh Morsalin in the 43rd minute, switched to right foot and unleashed a curling effort through a host of Maldives players and into the far corner of the net.