Bangladesh U-17 football team got off to a flying start as they thrashed host Sri Lanka by 5-1 goals in their opening group A match of the SAFF U-17 championship held Monday at Racecourse International Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh began to dominate the play and took the lead early when Rubel Shaikh scored the first goal in the seventh minute while Murshed Ali doubled the lead by scoring the second goal in the 10th minute of the match.
After resumption, Murshed Ali further widened the margin scoring his second and third goal for Bangladesh in the 75th minute while Yaseer Sharfraz reduced the margin for Sri Lanka in the 77th minute of the match.
Sirajul Islam Rana scored the fourth goal for Bangladesh in the 79th minute while Nazim Uddin completed the winners' tally scoring the fifth goal for Bangladesh in the 90th minute of the match.
The boys in red and green completely dominated the entire proceeding and notched their deserving victory on the day while Sri Lanka were totally off-coloured, except for the day's lone goal.
Earlier, in the day's group B opening match, India made a good start as they blanked Bhutan by 3-0 goals also held at the same venue.
Bangladesh, which is pitted in group A along with Sri Lanka and Maldives, will play will their second and last group match against the Maldives on September 7 at the same venue.
A total of six teams — Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, defending champions India, Nepal and Bhutan — split into two groups, are taking part in the regional tournament.
The top two teams from each group will play the cross semi-finals on September 12 while the final of the tournament is slated on September 14.
All the matches will be held at Racecourse International Stadium in Colombo.
Bangladesh U-17 team: Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Sohanur Rahman, Ismail Hossain Mahin, Parvej Ahmed, Imran Khan (captain), Ashikur Rahman, Siam Omit, Ratul, Sirajul Islam Rana, Chandon Roy, Nazmul Huda Faysal, Swopon Hossen, Sojol Tripura, Saiful Islam, Iftiar Hossain, Samuel Raksam, Mithu Chowdhury, Rubel Shaikh, Mursed Ali, Mirajul Islam, Mohammed Nazim Uddin, Sree Sumon Soren and Moltagim Alam Hemel.
