Today's games vital for all four teams
Bernard Perera
The matches of the 7th SAFF championship group 'B' enters its second
day with Sri Lanka taking on Bhutan and Afghanistan meeting Bangladesh.
All teams managed to collect only single point as both games ended in
draws on Wednesday at the Sugathadasa Stadium. First it was Bangladesh
drew with Bhutan while the second game saw Sri Lanka held to a draw by
Afghanistan 2-2.
Today Sri Lanka will have to come up with a better performance to
beat Bhutan to keep their hopes alive for a semi final berth. This win
too have to be achieved with better goal margin, because Afghanistan who
performed well against Sri lanka is eyeing a place. If Afghanistan beats
Bangladesh and take a lead they too can make sure of a semifinal berth.
Here too the Afghan must have a better goal aggregate.
The Lankans played a disciplined game against Afghanistan though they
failed to win. This was mainly due to few mistakes that came from the
strikers. Today the strikers EB Channa and Kasun Jayasuriya should take
great care not to make mistakes. IF they do it is the team that will
have to pay the penalty and also will be facing a tough situation when
it comes for the third game against Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is a team improving game by game so the Lankans must make
sure that they take the advantage from today's game to be on top of the
table. Bhutan too is capable of posing a threat to the Lankans but the
advantage is greater for the local team.
Bangladesh - Afghanistan the first game for the day too will be of
vital importance for both teams.
Here the Afghans have a slight edge over their rivals in physical as
well as the speed. Bhutani defenders have to work hard to halt the
penetration by the speedy Afghans who play to a plan.
The organisers for today's game great care in switching on the
floodlights at the correct time for the referee to conduct the game
without a stoppage.
Today's games are sure to produce classy soccer for the soccer fans
expected to throng the stadium.
****
India win
The defending champions of the SAFF championship India defeated
Pakistan two goals to one yesterday in Male, Maldives. This game was the
third game of the group A.
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