The Bangladesh women’s football team bid farewell to the 2nd Women’s SAFF Football Championship after losing their last group match against hosts Sri Lanka 1-2 at the Ceylon Rugby and Football Club in Colombo yesterday.
Bangladesh finished third in Group A with three points from their 1-0 victory over Bhutan, with India qualifying with maximum nine points and hosts Sri Lanka taking the second semifinal berth with six points.
Bangladesh had made it to the semifinals in the inaugural edition on home soil in Cox’s Bazar before losing against Nepal in the last four.
Bangladesh needed an outright victory in yesterday’s match since Sri Lanka had a superior goal difference. And they stunned the hosts when they took the lead in the 75th minute, thanks to striker Aungmraching Marma’s strike from a goal-mouth melee. But the lead lasted only eight minutes as Achala Chitrani scored with a clinical finish. And the hosts confirmed their semifinal berth three minutes later, courtesy of Hasara Dilrangi’s goal.
-With The Daily Star input
