With a sweet memory of beating defending champions India 2-1, last time runners up Bangladesh will play the Maldives in their 3rd match of the five-nation SAFF U-20 Championship’2022 at the Kalinga Stadium in the Indian city of Bhubaneswar on Friday (July 29).
The match will kick-off at 7:30 pm (Bangladesh time).
Holders India will play all losers Sri Lanka at 3:30 pm (BST) in the day’s other match at the same venue.
After the 2nd matches, Nepal and Bangladesh dominated the meet securing full six points from straight two matches while hosts India yet to open the account losing their first match to neighbor Bangladesh.
But, in the goal differences, Nepal top the list scoring seven goals without conceding any (7-0) while Bangladesh is in the 2nd slot scoring three goals against conceding one (3-1).
In the remaining match, Bangladesh will face two times champions and league leader Nepal on August 2.
Bangladesh made a good start in ongoing meet after beating Sri Lanka 1-0 by a Merazul goal in the first match and they brightened their change to reach the final upsetting holders India by 2-1 goal in the 2nd match, thanks to Pias Ahmed Nova for scoring a brace.
The Himalayan nation Nepal made a flying start crushing the Maldives by 4-0 goal in the opener and outplayed the Islanders Sri Lanka by 3-0 goal in the 2nd match
Ahead of the Friday’s match, Bangladesh team, divided in two groups, made strength and conditioning, gym, ice bath and pool session at the team hotel Thursday morning and made their practices at the Capital Practice ground in the afternoon.
Five South Asian nations – India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka– are taking part in this year’s fourth edition of the regional youth soccer meet.
After the league basis matches, top two teams will play in the final on August 5.
Nepal are the most successful nation in the meet winning the title twice while India lifted its first title in 2019 after beating two times runners-up Bangladesh.
Source: United News of Bangladesh