Bangladesh thrash Sri Lanka 4–0 to seal perfect group campaign

Bangladesh signed off on the SAFF Championship group stage with a commanding 4-0 win over Sri Lanka, completing an unbeaten campaign without conceding a goal.

Already assured of a semi-final place after Sri Lanka’s earlier 2-2 draw with Bhutan, the hosts had little riding on the final Group A fixture at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Wednesday.

But they showed no inclination to ease off, finishing top of the group with a perfect record and an unbreached defence.

Shamit Shome gave Bangladesh the lead in the eighth minute, capitalising on a poor clearance by Sri Lanka goalkeeper Sujan Perera to find the net.

Hamza Choudhury doubled the advantage just before half-time, in the 43rd minute. The midfielder surged past the Sri Lankan defence before his effort took a deflection off Perera and went in.

Bangladesh struck twice more after the break to complete the emphatic victory and carry their winning momentum into the knockout stage.

The semi-final line-up is now complete. Group B champions India will face Bhutan, while Bangladesh will take on Group B runners-up Pakistan.

Hamza marked his captaincy debut with a goal, while Shamit opened the scoring and Farhan Ali Wahed produced a solo effort before Rakib Hossain added a late fourth.

Thomas Dooley made three changes to the side that beat Bhutan, bringing Hamza, Farhan and Mohammad Ibrahim into the starting line-up. 

Jamal Bhuiyan and Faisal Ahmed Fahim dropped to the bench, while Bishwanath Ghosh missed out through injury.

Bangladesh made a lively start. Hamza sent a free kick over the crossbar in the sixth minute, then two minutes later Shome put the hosts ahead. Sri Lanka goalkeeper Sujan Perera punched away Hamza’s cross, but the ball fell to Shome. His first attempt was blocked; he made no mistake with the rebound.

Sri Lanka threatened when Adhavan Rajamohan cut inside Rakib and shot in the 11th minute, but Shome intervened to concede a corner.

Hamza nearly produced a goal in the 25th minute. He controlled Rakib’s headed pass, rounded the advancing goalkeeper with his first touch and tried a backheel, only to see the ball hit the roof of the net.

The midfielder made no mistake just before half-time. Taking Ibrahim’s pass, he cut past a defender and drove a powerful shot that beat Perera after ricocheting off the goalkeeper and the underside of the crossbar.

Farhan extended the lead in the 53rd minute with a dazzling individual goal. Cutting in from the left, he dribbled past three defenders before threading a precise right-footed finish between two more.

Dooley made a triple substitution soon afterwards, and substitute Shuki Itofusa tested Perera with a fierce effort in the 70th minute. Fahim also had a chance, but could not beat the goalkeeper.

Rakib completed the scoring in the 88th minute, racing clear on a counter-attack and chipping the ball over the advancing Perera.

Source: bdnews24