SAFF Championship 2021: Sri Lanka edged out by Nepal

• SL faces India tomorrow and hosts Maldives on Sunday

Two second half goals by Marvin Hamilton and Dillon de Silva could not prevent the Sri Lanka from suffering 3-2 defeat at the hands of a strong Nepal outfit in their SAFF Championship 2021 meeting, at the National Stadium in Maldives, on Monday.

Sri Lanka displayed quality football in the first half but lacked the finishing touch. Despite ample possession, they could not make it count, and that would prove costly in the end, with Nepal drawing first blood through a Suman Lama strike in the 33rd minute. Sri Lanka would press for an equaliser as the half closed, but their passing let them down on numerous occasions.

After the turnaround, Anjan Bista, the youngster who had a brilliant game for Nepal, doubled his side’s advantage. But minutes later Hamilton scored a sensational goal from long range to halve the deficit. Sri Lanka’s goalkeeper and Captain Sujan Perera was then forced into several brilliant saves to keep the game within touching distance, while the threat Kavindu Ishan, Dillon, Hamilton and Wazeem Razeek kept Nepal on the backfoot. But despite their best efforts in search of an equaliser, Ayush Ghlan put the game to bed in the 85th minute with a fine finish, and restored his side’s two-goal advantage. Dillon scored Sri Lanka’s second late on to make for a tense finish, but it was too late as Nepal secured their second straight win in the competition and remain undefeated. With this defeat, Sri Lanka’s chances of a final showdown are fast fading.

In the other game played at the National Stadium, Bangladesh and India drew 1-1. India, who dominated the first half, scored through Sunil Chetri, while Bangladesh who played well in the second half scored through Arafath.  

Sri Lanka will play India in their third game on 7 October and will play their final group encounter against the hosts Maldives on 10 October. – (SJ).