Bangladesh reach SAFF Championship semi-final after Bhutan-Sri Lanka draw

Bangladesh have sealed their place in the SAFF Championship semi-final with just one win. The hosts confirmed their place in the last four after Sri Lanka and Bhutan played out a dramatic 2-2 draw in the group's other match today.

In the earlier match in Group A, Bangladesh earned all three points by beating Bhutan 1-0. With today's draw, Sri Lanka have one point in their pocket, and Bhutan also have one point. As a result, Bangladesh's semi-final place is assured even if they lose their next match against Sri Lanka. Two teams from each group will go to the semi-finals, and on that count Bangladesh's semi-final place from Group A is confirmed.

If the Sri Lanka-Bangladesh match ends in a draw, the Sri Lankans will reach the semi-final as runners-up with two points. And if Bangladesh win, Bhutan will have a slim chance. In that case, Bangladesh will have to beat Sri Lanka by a margin of at least two goals, which would give Bhutan the chance to go past Sri Lanka on goal difference.

At the National Stadium today, Sri Lanka played attacking football from the start. Strengthened by the inclusion of expatriate footballers, the side kept Bhutan's defence busy with one attack after another in the first half hour. But against the run of play, Bhutan went ahead in the 34th minute. Kinga Wangchuk scored from a rebound after an attack created by captain Chencho Gyeltshen's individual brilliance.

But that joy did not last long. In the very next minute, Sri Lanka were back level through Oliver Kelaart's goal. Late in the first half, Wasim Razzak's header put the Lankans ahead again. Sri Lanka led 2-1 at the break.

Bhutan had a chance to come back in the second half. But although they won a penalty in the 67th minute, they could not make it count. Sri Lanka goalkeeper Sujan Perera saved the shot taken by captain Chencho Gyeltshen. But it took only nine minutes to overcome that failure and bring the match level. Perera could not properly control a shot from outside the box, and Chencho scored his second goal with a superb strike from the rebound.

Towards the end, both teams tried for a winning goal. In the 90th minute, Sri Lanka appealed for a penalty, but the referee did not respond. In added time, Bhutan's goalkeeper made a fine save. No more goals came, and the two sides left the field with a 2-2 draw.

This draw has confirmed Bangladesh's semi-final place from Group A. The hosts are on top of the group with three points from their win over Bhutan in their first match.

Bangladesh will now face Sri Lanka in their final group match. Whatever the result of that match, the hosts' place in the last four is assured. If it ends in a draw, Sri Lanka will go through to the semi-final as runners-up.

Bhutan's hopes of reaching the semi-final, on the other hand, are not entirely over, but they are very slim. If Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by a margin of at least two goals, Bhutan will have the chance to go past Sri Lanka on goal difference.

The match at the National Stadium saw both sides play attacking football. Chencho's brace and Perera's several saves made the match dramatic.