SA Games Football: Bangladesh keep final hope alive beating Sri Lanka 1-0

Bangladesh Men’s U-23 Football team kept their final hope alive in the 13th South Asian Games Football beating Sri Lanka Men’s U-23 Football team by 1-0 goal in their 3rd match at the Dasharath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu on Thursday, reports UNB.

Midfielder Mahbubur Rahman Sufil scored the match-winner for Bangladesh in the 11th minute by a low-range grounder from the danger zone, utilizing a short pass from forward Saad Uddin (1-0).

Bangladesh maintained their early lead against the islanders Sri Lanka displaying a good brand of football till the referee blew the final whistle.

Bangladesh will play their 4th and last league match against hosts Nepal on December 8 at 5:15 pm to decide their final berth.

The two top teams of the league basis matches will play in the final on December 10 at the same venue.

In the day’s other match, Bhutan beat Maldives by 2-1 goals at the same venue.

Earlier, Bangladesh Men’s U-23 Football started SA Games campaign with an embarrassing 0-1 goal defeat against lowly Bhutan in the opening match and played to a 1-1 draw with Maldives in the 2nd match.

Bangladesh men’s team clinched the SA Games Football crown twice -- first in the 1999 games in Kathmandu and the 2nd in the 2010 games in Dhaka.

Bangladesh: Anisur Rahman, Bishwanath Ghosh, Yeasin Khan, Tutul Hosain Badsha, Jamal Bhuiyan, Saad Uddin, Md Rabiul Hasan (Md Ibrahim- 80th), Md Al Amin (Rahmat Mia-69th), Riyadul Hasan, Sushanto Tripura, Mahbubur Rahman Sufil.

Sri Lanka: Sujan Perera, Jude Supan, Duckson Puslas, Chamod Dilshann, Naveen Jude, Joy Nithusan, Mohamed Shaheel, Sundararaj Niresh, Mohamed Fazal, Mohamed AAkib (Dilip Pieris-36th), Manaram Perera.

Referee: Mohamed Jauaz (Maldives).