SAFF Cup: Bangladesh Book Semi Spot With Sri Lanka Win

Bangladesh produced some sparkling football to qualify for the semi finals, topping the Group. As a result, Pakistan crashed out of the tournament.

Dec 9, 2009 12:57:33 AM

More On :  Bangladesh XI, Bhutan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
SAFF Logo


Hosts Bangladesh produced an attacking display of football as they beat Sri Lanka 2-1 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium to go through to the semi finals of the SAFF Cup as Group B winners.
Don't Miss

Pakistan who had earlier themselves sizzled in a 7-0 thumping of Bhutan, crashed out of the tournament.

Pakistan had kept their hopes of going through to the semi finals alive by winning by a comfortable margin. Had Bangladesh lost the match they would have been on same points as Pakistan but Pakistan would have gone through on goal difference.

But that was not to be. Bangladesh stated the match firing on all cylinders. Sri Lanka looked totally out of their depth, and Bangladesh looked certain to score within minutes.

As early as the 6th minute, Mehedi Hassan took the ball at left flank, cut inside and shot a long range shot which whizzed past the post. But Hassan would almost immediately do better as his pass allowed Enamul Haque to take a shot at goal and score to draw first blood.

Sri Lanka responded by slowing the game down and play the long ball game. But Bangladesh were determined to not take the foot off the gas.

Mehedi Hassan particularly was causing all kinds of troubles for the Sri Lanka defense. Sri Lanka however looked calm and stuck to their plan of keeping the ball and looking for spaces. Zahid Parvez played some lovely through ball for his forwards which they were unable to convert.

The game reached a state of equilibrium as both sides looked to make a killer pass. Just when it seemed the first half was going to end on an even footing, Bangladesh concede a free kick just at the edge of the box.

E.B Channa stepped and duly sent in a love free kick past the Bangladeshi keeper and into the net. It ended 1-1 at half time.

Second half started with Bangladesh again having a go at the Lankan defense. Mehedi Hassan found himself in a decent position to convert a cross from the right but was unable to control the ball.

Sri Lanka were playing a long ball game whereas Bangladesh looked to keep the ball on the ground and string together a few passes.

Bangladesh were dominating proceedings now and on 66th minute it finally paid off. Nasirul Islam sent in a beautiful cross from the right which was met by Enamul Haque as he thumped in a header to give the hosts a 2-1 lead.

Sri Lanka seemed in no hurry to equalize and so the game again slowed down allowing Bangladesh to keep possession.

Enamul Haque was substituted on 80 min to a big applause by the Bengali support.

Sri Lanka resorted to some long range shooting but to no avail as Bangladesh played out the last ten minutes pretty comfortably to seal a spot in the Semi finals.

Venkatesha Sharma
Follow Goal.com on Twitter
Follow Goal.com on Facebook
Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
Comments
7 Comments
 
Advertisement
play pause open close
Inside Goal.Com
  1. Capello remains one of the greats of the game Capello remains one of the greats of the game

    After tasting success wherever he had gone previously, the coach will look upon his time at Wembley as an incomplete job rather than a complete failure

  2. Can Suarez repeat Cantona's grand comeback? Can Suarez repeat Cantona's grand comeback?

    The divisive Uruguayan can look to history when he starts against United on Saturday for the first time since receiving an eight-match ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra

  3. Key battles: Manchester United v Liverpool Key battles: Manchester United v Liverpool

    The former Reds defender believes that the Uruguayan must put controversy to the back of his mind when his team face the champions

  4. The importance of Champions League qualification The importance of Champions League qualification

    The Ruhr side's remarkable run in Europe's elite tournament saw their revenue unexpectedly soar last season, but some teams are structured to depend on such results to survive

  5. Cartoon: Capello's managerial merry-go-round Cartoon: Capello's managerial merry-go-round

    Goal.com cartoonist Omar Momani gives us his unique take on the football news of the day ...

 
Advertisement
Advertisement