Defending champions Bangaldesh began their Saff U-15 Championship title defence with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Sri Lanka at the Anfa Complex on Friday.

In  Group ‘A’ match, striker Md Foysal Ahmed Fahim starred with a hat-trick, while Yeasin Arafat netted one. It took almost half an hour for Bangladesh to get the breakthrough as Fahim found the net in the 28th minute. 

The holders doubled their lead after Fahim added his second four minutes later and Arafat made the game almost safe scoring in the first minute of the first half injury time. Fahim completed the rout in the 77th minute scoring from a penalty which was awarded after a foul on Arafat by Rajapakshya.

Over the moon by the resounding win, Bangladesh coach Mostafa Anwar Parvez said the goal-margin could have been even bigger. “I don’t think the Sri Lankan players were plotting attack against us. We wanted to score goals and the boys did it. We could have scored more but the boys squandered quite a few scoring chances,” said Parvez. 

Sri Lanka coach Suzuki Chikashi admitted his side played with more defensive approach but couldn’t execute that strategy as well. “We wanted to strengthen our defence keeping in mind the impending AFC U-16 Qualifiers. But unfortunately we couldn’t do well in that department. However, I am happy with the way our boys fared,” said the coach.

Youth and Sports Minister Rajendra Kumar KC inaugurated the event.  On Saturday, another title favourites India will take on Maldives in Group ‘B’. Nepal will play their first Group ‘B’ match against Maldives on Monday and India on August 23.