Bangladesh footballers will play hosts Sri Lanka in their 3nd and final group phase match of the Mahinda Rajapaksa Four Nations International Football Tournament on Tuesday with hopes of securing a place in the final.
The match will kick-off at 9:30 pm (Bangladesh time) at Racecourse ground in Colombo.
Bangladesh are currently top of the table with an unbeaten record securing four points from two matches with a +1 goal difference, and need just a draw against Sri Lanka to book their final berth.
African nation Seychelles are second behind Bangladesh securing same points, and also need just a draw against the Maldives Tuesday afternoon at 4:30 pm to confim their final berth.
The Maldives and hosts Sri Lanka are in “must win” situation to keep their final hopes alive.
After the league basis three-match first round, top two teams of the four-nation meet will play final on November 19.
Earlier, Bangladesh started their campaign with a frustrating note after playing out a 1-1 draw with the Seychelles despite dominating the match and leading till the 87th minute last Wednesday.
Bangladesh smartly bounced back beating the strong Maldives side after 18 years by 2-1 goals in their 2nd match last Saturday at the same venue.
Earlier in the tournament opener last Tuesday, coming from behind, hosts Sri Lanka played to a 4-4 draw with their neighbor the Maldives while Seychelles beat hosts Sri Lanka by 1-0 goal in another match on Saturday.
In their last pre-match press conference on Monday at the team hotel, Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuiyan and head coach Mario Lemos sounded a confident note on doing the needful to reach the final.
Standings after two matches (Tabulating under match played, win, draw, loss, goal for, goal against, goal difference and pointss)
Teams M W D L GF GA GD pts
Bangladesh 2 1 1 0 3 2 1 4
Seychelles 2 1 1 0 2 1 1 4
Maldives 2 0 1 1 5 6 -1 1
Sri Lanka 2 0 1 1 4 5 -1 1
Source: United News of Bangladesh