AIFF Media Team

KALYANI: Defending champion Bangladesh started off their 2019 SAFF U-15 Championship campaign with an exciting win over Bhutan at the Kalyani Stadium, in Kalyani, on Friday, August 23.

Bhutan, who lost their previous game against Sri Lanka, despite leading by two goals at the hour mark, put put a good fight against the defending champions in the first half.

Bangladesh took the lead twice (Al Amin Rahman 15', Al Morad 21') in the first half, but Bhutan soon struck back to level the scores on both occasions (Sonam Chozang 17', Phub Dorji 31'). First half substitute Shuvo Sarkar put Bangladesh in the lead again, with just minutes left for the half-time whistle.

While Bhutan kept knocking on the Bangladesh door in the second half, Al Mirad scored his second of the day to give the defending champions a two-goal lead, before Emon Islam Babu netted the fifth in injury time.

NEPAL EASE PAST SRI LANKA

Nepal bounced back from their heavy defeat against hosts India with slender victory over Sri Lanka.

While the Himalayan nation dominated the proceedings, the Lankan defence held firm till the half-time whistle.

Nepal gaffer Sunil Shrestha's half-time talk seemed to have done wonders, as his boys came out with more vigour in the second half. Sasank Bohra (46') turned it in from a goalmouth melee to give Nepal the lead just a minute after the restart.

Substitute Ashim Rai (83') secured the three points for Nepal as he slipped it past the Lanka keeper from close range.