Matin Miah stole the show with a clinical brace as a 10-man Bangladesh swept into the top-four of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup 2020 after beating hapless Sri Lanka comfortably by 3-0 in the last Group A match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium Sunday.
In the absence of injured midfielder Jamal Bhuiyan for the first time in three years, Matin netted one apiece in the either side of the break to set up semifinal clash with in-form Burundi on Thursday where Topu Barman will be missed after being handed a 90th-minute red card.
Bangladesh head coach Jamie Day brought a total of four changes of personnel from the previous match including the forced change of Jamal and also altered the formation. The changes paved way for Manik Hossain Molla to make his international debut while defenders Bishwanath Ghosh and Riyadul Hasan Rafi and striker Mahbubur Rahman Sufil replaced Yeasin Khan, Mamunul Islam and Rayhan Hasan.
Matin, a player of Bashundhara Kings in domestic football, started as striker alongside club-mate Sufil in an unusual 4-4-2 formation, netted his first international goal in the 17th minute after collecting a fine lob from Manik. The forward cut inside Sri Lankan defender Jude Supan at the top of the box before hitting past the keepers gloves.
The winger, who hailed from Sylhet, doubled the lead after the hour mark with a cool finish. After snatching possession from the same defender at the halfway line, Matin got only the opponent goalkeeper in front of him and he skillfully dribbled past the custodian before rolling the ball in the net.
Mohammad Ibrahim scores the third goal Dhaka Tribune/Md Manik
It was not the best day for other winger Mohammad Ibrahim until he killed the game in the 83th minute with a simple tap-in from tiny box following Manik’s replacement, another debutant Rakib Hossain’s fine work into the left side.
Ibrahim, earlier, squandered his opening chance in the 22nd minute despite sprinting past three defenders to get inside the box but could have slid the ball to unmarked Sufil before his shot was blocked by the onrushing keeper.
Sohel Rana, the most experienced presence in midfield in the absence of Jamal and Mamunul Islam, could have extended the lead seven minutes after the break had he not mishit his attempt against the keeper on one-on-one before trying his luck with 25-yard strike later.
The visitors could not have enough occasions to penetrate the host defence led by Topu, who was given captain’s armband, and the reliable center-back made it a forgettable day for him despite the win as he was punished for his unnecessary foul in the last minute with his second yellow card.
Sri Lankan coach Packeer Ali praised Bangladesh’s performance but blamed his players for making ‘lots of mistakes’ that led to the goal while Day credited his boys for the comfortable win.
“We have been missing many players like Jamal, Yeasin [Khan], Jibon [Nabib Newaz], Badsha [Tutul Hossain] due to injury and illness but those who came up stepped up to the mark, scored goals and kept clean sheet against a side who did very well against Palestine for 90 minutes.” said Day after the game.
Palestine, who defeated both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka with similar 2-0 margin, emerged as the group champions while Bangladesh are placed second with three points.
Result
Sri Lanka 0 – 3 Bangladesh (Matin 17, 63, Ibrahim 84)
Squad
Sri Lanka: Prabath Ruwan Arunasiri; Sebamalainayakam Supan, Charitha Bandara Rathnayake, Herath Amith Kumara, Tharmakulanathan Kajakopan; James Edison Figurado, Dilip Suraj Peiris (Mohamed Shaheel 75’), Fernando Harsha, Mohamed Fazal, Sebamalainayagam Gnanaruban (Mohamed Zarwan 32’), Razeek Ahmed Waseem.
Bangladesh: Ashraful Islam Rana; Topu Barman, Riyadul Hasan, Rahmat Mia, Bishwanath Ghosh; Manik Hossain (Rakib Hossain 73’), Sohel Rana, Mohammad Ibrahim (Sushatnto Tripura 85’), Saad Uddin; Matin Miah, Mahbubur Rahman (Mamunul Islam 61’).
