Bangladesh 2-2 Afghanistan

Video highlights of Bangladesh v Afghanistan, which was played on 6th June 2008 in the South Asian Football Federation Championship. The match report can be found here.

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.

Bangladesh 1-1 Bhutan

Video highlights of Bangladesh v Bhutan, which was played on 4th June 2008 in the South Asian Football Federation Championship. The match report can be found here.

Bhutan Hold Bangladesh

Bangladesh kicked off their fifth SAFF Championship campaign dourly when the 2003 champions were held to a 1-1 draw by minnows Bhutan yesterday.

Although 2005 SAFF runners-up Bangladesh's chances to regain the trophy looked remote when they left for Sri Lanka last month, everyone had taken a victory for granted against Bhutan, who lost all their previous six matches in 2003 and 2005 SAFF Championships.

Despite the threat of heavy rains of an early monsoon, which has created massive flood and landslide in Sri Lanka, killing at least 17 people and forcing over 2.5-lakh people to leave their homes, the match began on schedule at the Sugathadasa Stadium, which had its pitch waterlogged on Tuesday.

Bangladesh went ahead after 26 minutes through defender-turned midfielder Arup Baidya's maiden international goal following a solo effort but Abu Yusuf's side conceded the stunning equaliser in the 79th minute.

It was Nima Sanghe who scored Bhutan's second ever goal against Bangladesh after losing all five earlier matches, 3-0 in the 2005 SAFF in Karachi, 3-0 in the 2003 SAFF in Dhaka, 3-1 in a friendly in Dhaka in 2001, 3-0 in the 1987 SAF Games in Kolkata amd 2-0 in the Kathmandu SAF Games in 1984.

Meanwhile, co-hosts Maldives got off to a perfect start when they crushed Pakistan 3-0 on Tuesday night in Male. Mohamed Shifan put the home side ahead in the dying minutes of first half and ace striker Ahmed Thoriq's header early in the second half doubled the lead. An own goal by Pakistan defender Naveed Akram in the final seconds of the game sealed the victory for Maldives.

Bangladesh Face Bhutan Today

Bhutan will give Bangladesh another opportunity to win their first international match in over two years when the two sides meet in the Group B opener of the fifth SAFF Football Championship in Colombo today.

The match, which kicks off at 5.30 pm (Bangladesh time) at the Sugathadasa Stadium, will be telecast live by ATN Bangla.

Having won the 2003 SAFF Championship at home, Bangladesh ran two years and 11 months without an international win and broke the duck when they crushed Bhutan 3-0 in the 2005 SAFF Championship opener in Karachi.

Abu Yusuf's boys now face the South Asian minnows in a similar situation and feel confident to end their latest lean patch of two years and two months, which started after beating Guam 3-0 in the inaugural AFC Challenge Cup at home in April 2006.

Winners in 2003 and runners-up in Karachi, Bangladesh are pitted against Afghanistan and co-hosts Sri Lanka in their group.

National captain Aminul Haque told in a message to the Bangladesh Football Federation yesterday that the team's morale is high after a good preparation match against Thailand's BEK Toro FC, which ended in a goalless draw in Bangkok on May 30.

"We have managed to correct many of our mistakes and are now prepared to beat Bhutan to take a step towards the semifinal, which is our initial target," Aminul said.

"Everyone in the country wants us to win this trophy and we are like a family here. We are determined to give our 100 percent to make this tournament a success.

"We are not taking Bhutan lightly but we will be there to win," added the Bangladesh goalkeeper.

Bangladesh have won both their previous meetings with Bhutan, in 2003 and 2005 SAFF Championships, by identical margins of 3-0.

Meanwhile, defending champions India got off to a flying start when they routed Nepal 4-0 in the tournament opener in Maldives capital Male yesterday with goals from Pradeep, Baichung Bhutia, Sunil Chetri and Sushil Kumar.