US-born forward Ronan Benjamin Sullivan announced himself in style with a stunning debut brace as Bangladesh defeated Pakistan 2-0 in their opening Group B match of the SAFF U20 Championship 2026 at the National Football Stadium in Malé on Tuesday.
After a goalless first half, Bangladesh raised the tempo after the break and found their breakthrough through Ronan’s moment of brilliance.
The 18-year-old curled in a superb free-kick from around 25 yards in the 54th minute, bending the ball into the right side of the net with the Pakistan goalkeeper left rooted. The set-piece opportunity was earned by Nazmul Huda Faysal following a positive attacking move.
Bangladesh had shown glimpses of intent even before the opener, with Mursed Ali going close just two minutes earlier after a well-worked team move.
Ronan doubled the lead in the 67th minute, this time showcasing his aerial ability. Sheikh Sangram delivered a precise cross from the left flank, and the forward rose unmarked inside the box to head home calmly, sealing all three points for the men in red and green.
Both Ronan and his twin brother Declan Theodore Sullivan were handed their first Bangladesh call-ups ahead of the tournament, and the former made an immediate impact with a match-winning performance.
The victory puts Bangladesh in a strong position in Group B as they look to secure a semi-final berth. They will next face India in their final group-stage match on Saturday.
Elsewhere in the tournament on Monday, Nepal edged Bhutan 2-1 in the opening match, while Sri Lanka registered a thrilling 3-2 win over hosts Maldives in Group A.
With the top two teams from each group progressing to the semi-finals, Bangladesh have taken an important early step toward qualification with a dominant and confident display.