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Bernard Perera reporting from Dhaka, Tuesday Sri Lanka failed to qualify for the semi-final of the 3rd SAF soccer championship here yesterday when they drew the final group 'A' match (1-1) with India after a commendable display.

As expected Lankans played a fine game with India too coming up with a good display.

Lankans were in full control of the first session and moved closer to the net on three occasions with in a period of 15 minutes. In the second minute Azmeer's kick struck the cross-bar depriving Sri Lanka the lead they were looking for.

Three minutes later it was Kasun Jayasuriya who was unlucky, when Indian custodian Rajat Gost did a fine job to hold on to the ball.

Chathura too had to face the same fate in the 28th minute when his bullet-like kick struck the post and rebounded.

The second session saw a ding dong battle between the two teams to take the lead, but none succeeded till the half-way mark.

Bangladesh referee had to pull out the yellow card to Kasun Jayasuriya when he was found guilty for rough play.

The turn around saw Sri Lankans come back strongly with determination and kept on the pressure for most of the time.

At this stage their opponents had to fall back to strengthen the defence. In the meantime the Indians too penetrated the Lankan defence on a few occasions but failed to capitalise from these moves. Both teams used all their tactics to take the lead, but none achieved until the 91st minute.

Ashim Biswas was the man responsible to put the Indians on top. Gallant display by the Lankans saw the equaliser come through the boot of Niroshan Abeysekera a minute later, during injury time.

When referee S. Zaman blew the final whistle the score read 1-all.

Striker Chathura Maduranga suffered shoulder injury mid-way in the second session and was a big blow to the Lankans. He was rushed to hospital and will be under observation.

In the first game Pakistan defected and India have now qualified to play in the semi-final from Group 'A'.

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