Sri Lanka enter semis by edging out Bangladesh

Thushan JAYASURIYA

Host Sri Lanka outplayed Bangladesh by two goals to one in a thrilling match of the SAFF Women’s Football Championship 2012 worked off at Longden Place yesterday. With this win, Sri Lanka have qualified for the semi finals.

Both teams couldn’t make headway in the first half of the match. But tried hard to score goals. The Sri Lankans missed some good chances of scoring due to silly mistakes and poor team work in the first half. The scores read nil all at half time

Left Out Aungmraching Marma opened the account for Bangladesh with a goal in the 75th minute of the match to give them a 1-0 lead. The Sri Lankans seemed bit nervous and realized the responsibility of protecting their good name.

In the 83rd minute, Sri Lanka’s Right Out Hasara Dilrangi booted a goal for Sri Lankan to equalize. In the 86th minute Achala Chithrani dashed through to score the match winning goal for Sri Lanka to the joy of her team mates which saw the Lankans go out victorious.

Meanwhile, defending champions India trounced Bhutan 11 goals to nil which helped to secure their position as table leaders with an unbeaten record in their group . India scored goals through Tuli Goon (one), Left Out Kamala Devi (one), Yumlembam Premi Devi(one), Left Centre Forward Sasmita Malik (one), Left Centre Middle Forward Montesori Chanu(two), Parameshwari Devi Irom(two) and Right Centre Forward Pinky Bompal Magar (three).

Nepal will meet Afghanistan at 8.30 am and Pakistan will take on Maldives at 3.30 pm today in their final group matches.