Bangladesh start SAFF with 1-0 win over SL

Bangladesh national football team kicked off their SAFF Championship 2021 campaign in style as they cruised to a comfortable 1-0 victory over Sri Lanka in their opening match on Friday courtesy of a goal from defender Topu Barman.

The only goal of the match came from the spot when Topu converted a penalty in the 56th minute.

Oscar Bruzon, who was appointed just ahead of the SAFF Championship, kicked off his tenure with a comfortable victory as Bangladesh coach where his side clearly the dominated throughout the match.

Sri Lanka, the only team ranked lower than Bangladesh in the SAFF Championship, were reduced to 10-men in the 55th minute when defender Duckson Puslas conceded a penalty and a second yellow card to see him sent off.

After that, Sri Lanka tried hard but could not create a good enough opportunity to trouble Bruzon’s men.

From the very start of the match, Bangladesh were in the driving seat as the Lankans failed to keep up with their passing football.

Bangladesh were almost ahead in the eighth minute, but Topu’s shot was blocked in the Sri Lankan box.

Bangladesh’s domination once again almost bear fruit in the 38th minute when Rakib Hossain displayed some brilliant skills on the left wing. He received Topu’s long ball and went past two defenders to put in a threatening cross in the box, but a shot from Jewel Rana was blocked as Bangladesh were denied again.

Bangladesh went closest to getting the lead in the final minute of the first half. Yeasin Arafat’s beautiful cross was met with a brilliant header from Topu, but Sri Lankan goalkeeper Sujan Perera produced an outstanding save to deny him.

Bruzon brought in Saad Uddin at the start of second half to replace Jewel.

Sri Lanka’s Kavindu Ishan’s shot in the 50th minute caught Bangladesh goalkeeper Anisur Rahman Zico off guard, but his shot went over the goal.

Four minutes later, Biplo Ahmed’s pass was handled in the box by Duckson, leading to a penalty and a second yellow for him.

Topu made no mistake from the spot as he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to bring Bangladesh lead.

Playing against 10-men, Bangladesh went inside a shell and opted to extend their lead on the counter. And they managed to do it well as they created a few opportunities on the counter but failed to score any.

In the 61st minute, Bangladesh skipper Jamal Bhuyan’s shot went wide before Rakib picked up a yellow in the 75th minute.

In the 81st minute, Bangladesh had a chance to double their lead but substitute Matin Miah’s header from a Jamal free-kick went wide.

Another long-range strike from Saad went wide in the 86th minute before Sufil’s shot was blocked in the last minute of regulation time.

Bangladesh received a free-kick just outside the box when Sri Lanka goalkeeper Sujan handled the ball, but the Bangladesh skipper’s free-kick hit the wall and went out for a throw.

In the final minute of the game, Bangladesh received an indirect free-kick inside the Sri Lankan box after the Sri Lankan goalkeeper had another ball in possession while play was going on with another.

From the free-kick, Topu hit his shot wide as the referee blew the final whistle to end the match.