Bangladesh Stay Alive

In one of their most remarkable recoveries in a football match, Bangladesh came from a two-goal deficit to salvage a 2-2 draw against Afghanistan in a SAFF Championship Group B clash yesterday.

Although holders India and co-hosts Maldives confirmed their semifinal berths from Group A after two rounds on Thursday, the Sri Lankan leg of the competition remained open after three successive draws in Group B.

Bangladesh, who suffered a shocking 1-1 draw with Bhutan in the opener, and Afghanistan, who also threw away the lead twice to draw 2-2 with co-hosts Sri Lanka, both stayed alive for the last four places following a battle at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Bangladesh and Afghanistan are level on two points but the latter have the advantage of having a match in hand against rank-outsiders Bhutan.

To reach the semifinals, Bangladesh - who play Sri Lanka in tomorrow's group finale - need to win regardless of the home side's result against Bhutan yesterday.

Afghanistan, whose FIFA ranking this June climbed 14 places up to reach 182 - one place above Bangladesh - after qualifying for the AFC Challenge Cup finals last month, stormed the rival fort from the word go.

The war-torn country, which returned to competitive football just five years earlier and were hammered 9-1 to Maldives in the 2005 SAFF Championship opener in Karachi, got the reward and were leading against the 2003 winners and two-time runners-up 2-0 by the 24th minute.

Abu Yusuf ignored veteran Nazrul although the coach fielded three central defenders in a changed 5-3-2 formation. Bangladesh had to commit a series of fouls early to stop the marauding Afghans but Zohib Islam capitalised on a mistake by rightback Hassan Al Mamun to set up Ata Yamrali's goal with a placing shot in the seventh minute.

Mostafa Hadid doubled the lead with a sidevolley from a 24th minute counter attack as Bangladesh stared at a defeat.

The second half, however, saw the all reds come out with a plan and prepared to execute it smartly.

Emily won a penalty in the 52nd minute and converted it after Afghanistan defender Ali Ahmad had tripped the striker.

Abul came close to score the equaliser but his tremendous volley from 20 yards was punched out by the Afghan goalie Amiri. The resulting corner gave Bangladesh one vital point as Mamunul Islam's curling left-footed drive from the left fooled Amiri to find the net through a forest of defenders in the 70th minute.

Once again, former captain Arif Khan Joy held the midfield but he was forced to leave the field following a serious tackle from behind.

Bangladesh should have been awarded another penalty but the referee ignored a foul on young striker Komol in the dying moments.

On Thursday, Ismail Mohamed and Ibrahim Fazeel each scored twice in Maldives' 4-1 defeat of Nepal in Male to ensure their place in the semis along side India. The two sides will meet today to decide the group winners.