Mohamed Issadeen’s four goals set up a convincing 5-2 victory over Bhutan in the last Group B encounter in the SAFF Championship in Nepal.
Both teams were playing a dead rubber as they were knocked out from the group stages of the tournament.
Sri Lanka were humiliated 10-0 in their opening fixture against Maldives but bounced back with a determined performance against a superior Afghanistan team in a 3-1 loss. Bhutan were defeated 3-0 by Afghanistan and demolished 8-2 by Maldives in their group matches.
Sri Lanka dominated the match from the beginning and opened the scoring through veteran striker Mohamed Issadeen in the 19th minute. Issadeen slotted home the ball after a cross by Madushan De Silva from the left wing. Mohammed Fazal could have added a second but his spectacular volley went wide of the mark. In the 26th minute Issadeen scored his second after he rounded off the keep for an easy finish.
Madushan De Silva who played a brilliant game down the left flank was tormenting the Bhutan defense and his cross was deflected by Bhutan’s Pema Dorji in the 32nd minute for the Lions third goal. The first half ended when a defensive lapse from Sri Lanka gifted Bhutan’s Passang Tshering an easy goal.
After the break, Issadeen completed his hat-trick in the 50th minute, driving home a through ball from Mohamed Rawme. Sonam Tenzing volley in the 58th minute made it 4-2. Deep into added time Mohamed Issadeen went on to score his fourth goal with a lovely pass from Sri Lankan substitute Sanka Danushka .
In the semi finals Maldives would meet India and in the other semifinal Afghanistan will play Nepal.
Results
India v Nepal 1-2
Bangladesh v Pakistan 1-2
Afghanistan v Maldives 0-0
