DHAKA, November 12: Sri Lanka’s hopes of progressing in the 2026 SAFF Championship came to a disappointing end after they suffered a comprehensive 4-0 defeat against hosts Bangladesh in their final Group A encounter at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Playing in front of a passionate home crowd of 18,631 spectators, Bangladesh produced a commanding performance to secure top spot in Group A and book their place in the semi-finals, while Sri Lanka were left to reflect on another missed opportunity at the regional tournament.
The hosts took control early in the contest, with Shamit Shome opening the scoring in the eighth minute after capitalising on a defensive error by the Sri Lankan side. The early breakthrough gave Bangladesh confidence, allowing them to dictate the tempo and put the Islanders under sustained pressure.
Sri Lanka struggled to establish their rhythm as Bangladesh continued to exploit gaps in the defensive line. Their dominance was rewarded again just before half-time when captain Hamza Choudhury doubled the advantage in the 44th minute with an impressive individual effort.
Bangladesh maintained their attacking momentum after the interval, and Farhaan Ali Wahid extended the lead to 3-0 in the 53rd minute with a superb solo effort, dribbling past several Sri Lankan defenders before finding the net.
Rakib Hossain put the finishing touch to an emphatic victory in the 87th minute, beating the Sri Lankan defence before calmly chipping the ball over goalkeeper Sujan Perera.
Sri Lanka, who had earlier drawn 2-2 against Bhutan, failed to produce the response required to challenge the hosts. Their attacking threat was limited, with the team managing only three attempts at goal, none of which were on target. Bangladesh, meanwhile, enjoyed greater possession and created the more dangerous opportunities throughout the encounter.
The result confirmed Bangladesh as Group A champions with six points from two matches, having scored five goals without conceding. They will face Pakistan in the semi-finals on November 14.
For Sri Lanka, the 4-0 defeat represents a disappointing conclusion to their SAFF Championship campaign, highlighting the need for greater defensive organisation, midfield control and attacking efficiency if the national team is to compete consistently at regional level.
Be the first to comment