Bangladesh U-17s off to a flying start

Bangladesh's bid to play the final of the SAFF U-17 Championship got off to an impressive start when the boys in red and green handed a massive 5-1 defeat to hosts Sri Lanka at the Racecourse International Stadium in Colombo tonight.

Following India's 3-0 win over Bhutan Group B encounter in rainy conditions, Bangladesh also kick-started their campaign brilliantly on the rain-soaked pitch.

Forward Murshed Ali struck a brace while forward Rubel Sheikh, substitute Sirajul Islam and Nazim Uddin netted one apiece in the one-sided encounter. Yasser Sharfraz managed to reduce the margin for the home side after capitalising on the fumble made by Bangladesh goalkeeper Mohammad Asif. 

The margin could have been even bigger had Sri Lankan goalkeeper Mohammad Rihaz not pulled off a string of saves, coupled with some poor finishing from the Bangladeshi forwards.

Rubel gave Bangladesh a seven-minute lead with a tap-in after the Lankan goalkeeper failed to grip the ball following a shot from Mirajul Islam.

The charges of Paul Smalley kept pressing to double the lead but Parvez Ahmed drove miles off the target from open net in the eighth minute before Murshed tapped in to the far post following two back-headers from Imran Khan and Ashiqur Rahman, respectively, in the 10th minute.

The boys in red and green established their full control in possession and the play was mostly confined to the Sri Lankan half afterwards. However, the Bangladeshi forwards kept miss-firing despite creating some four good chances, with goalkeeper Rihas frustrating them time and again.

After resumption, Sri Lanka looked better in pressing the visitors but they could hardly create any chances before Murshed made it 3-0 in the 75th minute with a nice tap-in, availing a well-judged cross from the right flank. 

Two minutes later, Sri Lanka pulled one goal back. Bangladeshi goalkeeper Asif contributed to the goal by trying to dribble past Sri Lanka's Sharfraz outside the box but lost the ball and Sharfraz slotted the ball home at ease into the open net. 

Bangladesh soon brought some changes upfront and substitute Sirajul headed home a curving free-kick from Murshed in the 79th minute. The boys in red and green wrapped up the victory in the stoppage minutes when Murshed set up Nazim,who did not hesitate to shoot on target with a left-footed shot inside the box.

Bangladesh will play their second and final match of the group stage against Maldives on September 7.