BSP-14 Sri Lanka play goalless draw with Maldives in SAFF Championship

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FOOTBALL-SAFF-MAL-SRI-REPORT

Sri Lanka play goalless draw with Maldives in SAFF Championship

DHAKA, Sept 7, 2018 (BSS)- Sri Lanka played out to a goalless draw with the Maldives in the group B match of the SAFF Suzuki Cup held on Friday at Bangabandhu National Stadium here.

The day’s draw mean, India as the first team to go the semi-final from group B with a win against Sri Lanka who have secured one point along with the Maldives. Sri Lanka, who have deem chance to go through, now have to look at the result of Maldives-India match.

The Maldives launched attack early in the 3rd minute when Ibrahim Waheed Hassan header from very close range off a cross from Hassan Naiz was brilliantly saved by Sri Lanka custodian Sujan Perera at centre of the goal.

Maldives again came close of scoring in the 16th minute when Hassan Naiz left footed shot from outside the box went out of play beside the left side bar.

Niaz missed his third scoring chance in the 26th minute when his left footed shot off a shot pass from Hamzath Mohamed at the left side of the box was saved again by Perera.

Sri Lanka got the first scoring chance in the 41st minute. Afeel Mohamed came forward to take a powerful right footed shot off Dilan Kaushalya De Silva’s short pass from outside the box missed the top right corner.

After the resumption, Sri Lanka took control of the second half creating some real scoring chances but they failed to convert those into a goal lack of proper finishing.

The Maldives deprived from a certain goal in the 56th minute when onrushing Mohammad Arif failed to tap the ball home from handshake distance.

Sri Lanka got two scoring chances in a span of two minutes. First it was Ashikur Rahman who’s powerful long range right footed shot off Sasanka Dilhara Jayasekara pass was brilliantly saved by Maldives custodian Faisal.

In the 67th minute Naizer Mohamed Fazal failed to break the deadlock for Sri Lanka as his right footed shot from outside the box was again saved by Maldives custodian who was superb under the bar foiling some real scoring chances

Sri Lankan booters kept pressure on Maldives when Anuruddha Warakagoda right footed shot from the centre of the box missed to the left bar following a corner in the 71st minute.

The Maldives Custodian Faisal again saved his team from certain goal in the 83rd minute. Medio Hewage Kavindu Ishan ran down to take a left footed shot off a close pass off Asela Madushan from the centre of the box was saved at the top right corner.

The Maldives will play their final group match against tournament favorite India scheduled to be held on Sunday (September 9) at the same venue.

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