Bangladesh have given their 2016 Bangabandhu Gold Cup campaign a flying start with a resounding win over Sri Lanka in the opening match.
The hosts thrashed the islanders 4-2 at the Shamsul Huda Stadium in Jessore on Friday.
Mamunul Islam and his men netted thrice in the first half and added another five minutes before the final whistle.
Bangladesh will take much solace from the win that followed a forgettable performance in the SAFF Championship in India last month.
It was their 11th win against Sri Lanka in the international football. Bangladesh will take on Malaysia in their second Group B tie on Tuesday.
The men in red and green started aggressively.
Bangladesh opened the scoring through Shakhawat Hossain Rony in the 17th minute.
Having squandered an early chance, Rony latched on to a fine cross from Zahid Hossain before slotting it past the Sri Lankan goalkeeper.
But Nasiruddin Chowdhury conceded a penalty three minutes later when he brought down Dananuz de Silva in the box. Edison Figurado converted the spotkick.
Yeasin Khan then powered a header into the back of the Sri Lankan net to restore Bangladesh’s lead two minutes later as three goals came in the space of five minutes.
Bangladesh kept pressing for more and was awarded a free kick on the edge of the box in the 42nd minute when Chalana Chamera handled the ball.
Zahid sent it in the middle and Nabib Newaj Jibon poked it in to extend Bangladesh’s lead before the break.
The hosts slowed things down a bit in the second half.
Jamal Bhuiya’s blunder then led to Sri Lanka’s second goal in the 51st minute. Sri Lanka midfielder Chaturanga Sanjib picked up a free ball and scooted away from the defenders before hitting the target.
Sri Lanka, who enjoyed more possession than the hosts, then missed a chance to go level when Nasirul Islam fended off a header from goalline.
Having wasted an easy chance in front of an empty goal minutes before, Rony poked in Bangladesh’s fourth after a Sri Lankan defender had headed it back to the goalkeeper.
Source: bdnews24.com
