Bangladesh held to 1-1 draw by Bhutan in SAFF opener
Thursday, 5 June 2008
Last time runners-up Bangladesh made a frustrating start in the 3rd SAFF Championship as they were forced to a 1-1 draw by lowly Bhutan in the Group B opener at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo Wednesday, reports UNB.
With the day's dismal performance, the semi-final berth of former SAFF champions Bangladesh has become uncertain.
Bangladesh dominated the first half by a solitary goal scored by new face Arup Kumar Baidya in the 26th minute, but they failed to maintain the lead in the second half.
Private satellite channel ATN Bangla was due to telecast the match live from Colombo but it failed to do so amid frustrations of the huge soccer crazy fans.
In the other Group B match, hosts Sri Lanka was due to play emerging force Afghanistan Wednesday night at the same venue.
In the remaining group B matches, Bangladesh will play Afghanistan on June 6 and hosts Sri Lanka on June 8, all in Colombo.
Earlier, in the opening match at Maldives capital Male on Tuesday, holders India crushed Nepal by 4-0 goals, while hosts Maldives beat Pakistan by 2-0 goals.
With the day's dismal performance, the semi-final berth of former SAFF champions Bangladesh has become uncertain.
Bangladesh dominated the first half by a solitary goal scored by new face Arup Kumar Baidya in the 26th minute, but they failed to maintain the lead in the second half.
Private satellite channel ATN Bangla was due to telecast the match live from Colombo but it failed to do so amid frustrations of the huge soccer crazy fans.
In the other Group B match, hosts Sri Lanka was due to play emerging force Afghanistan Wednesday night at the same venue.
In the remaining group B matches, Bangladesh will play Afghanistan on June 6 and hosts Sri Lanka on June 8, all in Colombo.
Earlier, in the opening match at Maldives capital Male on Tuesday, holders India crushed Nepal by 4-0 goals, while hosts Maldives beat Pakistan by 2-0 goals.