Bangladesh's dream to move into the second round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup shattered when they crashed 5-0 to Tajikistan yesterday in the second leg of the pre-qualifiers in Dushanbe.
Tajikistan, who had also qualified for the second round qualifiers for the World Cup in Germany with identical 2-0 wins over Bangladesh in both legs in 2003, advanced to the next round with a 6-1 aggregate after the first leg in Dhaka ended in a 1-1 draw on October 8.
Bangladesh, who made the trip to Central Asia with a depleted side in absence of key centre-back Nazrul Islam, began brightly and held Tajikistan to 0-0 at half time in the Tajik capital.
However, a dip in the temperature saw the visitors' performance heavily deteriorated after the break and they failed to show similar resistance as the home side ran them ragged with Numondzhon Hakimov slamming a hattrick.
Midfielder Zahid Hossain was unavailable for the game due to dysentery as Bangladesh's Indian coach Syed Nayeemuddin had only three players in the bench.
Arif replaced Zahid in the line-up while Shuvra started beside Rajani in central defence, which cracked in the very first minute after resumption and conceded three goals inside five minutes.
Tajikistan, who made eight changes from the side that started in Dhaka -- keeping only goalkeeper Mukanin and attackers Makhmudov and Hakimov -- went ahead in the 46th minute with Hakimov opening the account and the striker added his second a minute later.
Dzhomikhon Mukhidinov found the net in the 50th minute while substitute Dilshod Vasiev was on target in the 70th.
Hakimov, who scored Tajikistan's equaliser from a penalty at the Bangabandhu National Stadium earlier this month, then completed his treble to seal the victory from a 75-minute spotkick.
Hassan Al Mamun, the Bangladesh captain who gave away the penalty, shared the best player award with Hakimov.
Bangladesh team's co-ordinator Amirul Islam, meanwhile, complained about local hospitality during Bangladesh's stay in Dushanbe.
According to a telephone message received in Dhaka, Babu informed that although Tajikistan were given 5-star accommodation in Dhaka, the Bangladesh team were kept at a non-star hotel. The food was also not up to the mark, resulting in stomachaches for a few including Zahid and Sharif.
"We played well in the first half and held them although the players felt weak due to inappropriate food. The temperature was okay (18 degrees Celsius) in the first half but it was 12 degrees in the second. Our players failed to cope with the changed conditions as the opponents went on to expose our weaknesses," Arirul Islam told over phone to the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF).
With all these excuses, the team will return home on October 30. With no international commitment before next June's SAFF Championship in addition to the poor result in Dushanbe, there is little chance that Nayeemuddin will keep his job.
BFF, which has already indicated it is not interested to keep the 60-year-old Indian, is expected to take a decision on Nayeem by this month.
From the 19 teams that clear the first round, the lowest eight based on ranking move on to the second round and the other 11 to round three. The five top seeds -- Australia, Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Iran -- join the qualification process in the third round.
The draw for the third round will take place in Durban, South Africa, on November 25, 2007.
TEAMS
TAJIKISTAN: Mukanin, Zubaydov, Nosirov, Khujamov, Negmatov (Barotov 46), Rabimov, Kholmatov, Makhmudov (Shodzovorov 77), Hakimov, Vaskulov (Vasiev 46) and Mukhiddinov.
BANGLADESH: Biplab, Hassan Al Mamun, Rajani, Shuvra (Mahmudul Hasan 74), Waly, Arif, Abul (Sharif 74), Arman Aziz, Mithu (Robin 78), Emily and Moni.